Dawn still hadn't come, but the Tree of Life's interior still glowed with fluorescent light. Prince Simha, lay wide awake before the painted walls and sighed. The adolescent lion's slightly tanned fur contrasted his partly grown red mane and brown eyes. A unique symbol rested on his left shoulder, depicting a tree in the shape of a lion's head.
The same symbol lay on his parents' shoulders. Two adult lions cuddled up against each-other nearby, both fast asleep. Simha grunted after feeling a weight shift on his back and glared at two lion cubs snoring there.
"Sãhasí and Ãnanda, why can't you be all over mom and dad like normal cubs," Simha groaned, but his little brother and sister just kept snoozing.
Sighing, he looked back at the vibrant wall paintings that seemed to move in the shifting light. One painting depicted a lion and lioness defending the Tree of Life from a shadowy figure. Another showed Askari, the first lion to wield the Roar of the Elders. Then, Queen Rani the first, whom Simha's mother was named after, who famously saved the Barbary Lions from extinction and brought them to the Tree of Life.
King Ashoka, who made peace with all the surrounding lands, ending years of conflict. King Prithviraj, who fought off armies of invading poachers and territorial herds. Then, there was the most recent painting. Simha's tail shook as he watched a golden furred lion with a scar over his left eye using the Roar of the Elders and defeating a dark lion who wielded a similar roar that conjured magma.
Simha's head dropped as he looked over at his father, King Kion the Great. He turned to his mother, fast asleep beside him, Queen Rani the Magnificent. The prince looked back up at the wall of all his home's previous rulers and heroes.How am I supposed to live up to all of them?
He slumped back, unable to fall asleep. He only got some respite when the light of dawn crept into their den beneath the Tree of Life and his siblings woke up. Sãhasí and Ãnanda ran to Kion and started crawling over his face.
"Come on dad, wake up!" Sãhasí said.
"Yeah, we wanna play!" Ãnanda said.
The king sturred and let out a deep growl while Rani smirked. "Your cubs are awake."
"Before sunrise, they're your cubs," Kion muttered.
"Well, it is sunrise, and considering I have a cub in my belly, I'll leave these ones to you," Rani said.
Kion took a deep breath and nodded before stretching and getting up.
"Simha, tell Cadoc to bring the Queen's council here. Your mother needs more time to sleep," Kion said.
"Yes, Dad."
Simha got up and walked out of the den as his father played with Sãhasí and Ãnanda, pinning and licking the cubs while they giggled.
Once outside, Simha took in the rising sun and gazed upon the vast land. All around him creatures from all over the world stirred, waking from their sleep and moving about.
"Good morning, my prince!" A fish eagle swooped down and inclined his head to Simha.
"Morning, Cadoc. My dad asked if you could bring my mom's council here."
"Of course, Your Highness! Anything Her Majesty desires, especially since we'll soon have another prince or princess!"
"Yeah," Simha said, rolling his eyes. "I just hope they aren't as playful as Sãhasí and Ãnanda."
The fish eagle was about to take off, when a knot formed in Simha's stomach. Gritting his fangs he cried out. "Cadoc, wait! Do you have a minute?"
"By all means, my prince, what's on your mind?" The eagle landed again and Simha took a deep breath.
"You spend a lot of time with my mom during her royal duties. What do you think makes her such a great queen?"
"Oh, Your Highness," Cadoc laughed. "I could spend days if not weeks going over everything that makes Queen Rani a magnificent ruler. But if you want the short answer, I would say it is her sense of duty. When she goes about her business, Rani only ever thinks about others, not herself. Everything she does is to help those who need her. A good ruler thinks about what their subjects need."
"She rules for others, not for herself," Simha said.
"Precisely!"
"Thanks, Cadoc. I won't keep you any longer," Simha said.
The fish eagle bowed again before taking off. Simha pondered what Cadoc said while walking over to the nearby pool of water to wash up. Yet, when he lowered his head, someone jumped on his back, making him jump and crash.
"Gaah! Vadik!" Simha snarled, instantly knowing the culprit.
"What, just trying to wake you up, Simha!" A dark brown adolescent lion said and shook himself dry while Simha came out.
"Oh yeah!" Simha tried to pounce him.
They wrestled around until he and Vadik both crashed in the water again. Both emerged laughing until hearing a scoff. Two adolescent lionesses, one dark brown and the other as white as snow, approached. The dark brown one rolled her eyes at them while the white one blushed.
"Take a look at my brother and our future king, playing in the water like they're cubs."
"Oh yeah, Vala!" Vadik grinned and snatched his sister, dragging her into the water.
"Now you've done it!" Vala snarled with a wide grin and started dunking her brother only to get flipped over when he came back up.
"Morning, Simha," the white lioness said, avoiding his eyes.
"Morning, Lyra," Simha said while shaking himself dry again.
They watched the siblings play for another minute or so before Lyra noticed Simha's head occasionally turn back to the surrounding valley.
"Is everything alright, Simha?" Lyra asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah. I was just thinking again." Simha sighed. "One day all of this will be my responsibility. How am I supposed to live up to my mom and dad?"
"Simha, don't worry about that. You won't be alone," Lyra said.
"Yeah, you'll have your beautiful queen to help!" Vala laughed.
She burst from the water and seized their heads before pressing them together. Simha and Lyra both shot bright right and jerked away from each other. Both siblings now fell over, tears in their eyes.
"That wasn't funny the last 20 times, it's not funny now!" Simha roared.
"We beg to differ," Vadik cackled.
Lyra's legs wobbled and she collapsed with swirly eyes. Simha tried to help her up, but this only made it worse.
When he finally got Lyra to her feet, Simha noticed three parties approaching the Tree of Life. One was led by two cheetahs who had a cub between them.
A pair of honey badgers with a pink kit riding on the male's shoulders. A white egret flew with a white eagle chick on his back while a purple eagle flew beside them with a purple egret chick on her back. Lastly came a pair of Hippos with a calf in front of them.
The next group consisted of a bright yellow lioness, an old tortoise and a white tiger all led by Cadoc. Finally, Simha saw Vadik and Vala's parents, Surak and Nirmala coming up with Simha's cousin Janna alongside a mandrill with a staff.
Simha's parents came out with his siblings and those who arrived all bowed before them.
"Morning everyone," Rani yawned.
"Morning, Rani, are you sure you're up to going out today?" Nirmala asked. She strode over and nudged the queen's stomach. "Rest would do you good."
"I'm fine, Nirmala, I was on my paws all the time for my other cubs," Rani said, despite Kion nuzzling her too.
Simha's stomach lurched a little.Cadoc's right.His siblings ran out to the other young ones who arrived with Kion's King's Guard.
"Alright, you kids be good for Surak, Nirmala, and Makini," Fuli said while nudging her son. Then added. "And make sure you win any races you have."
"Man, I'm glad we don't need babysitting anymore," Vadik said.
"Don't tempt me," Surak growled at his son who shrank with Vala.
"I don't get why he's so mad. We just went over a waterfall, it was no big deal," Vala muttered.
Kion began talking with his King's Guard while Rani did the same with her Queen's council. Simha looked between them and gritted his fangs.
"So, what is on the agenda for today?" Vadik asked.
"Well we could go sledding in the tundra. Have a sand war on the island or desert. We could–" Vala started.
"What if we did something useful?" Simha asked.
"You mean like help my hopeless brother find a girlfriend?" Vala snickered.
"It just so happens, Priya agreed to go on a date with me," Vadik said with his head held high.
"What?" Vala yelped, her smile vanishing. "I was just kidding! She's not good enough for you! She's way too prissy, always worrying about how shiny her coat is!"
"Yes, she's beautiful and–" Vadik started.
"Guys, I'm serious!" Simha snapped, making the other lions jump. "You weren't wrong earlier, Vala. We aren't cubs anymore. Why don't we do something to help out my parents for a change?"
"That does sound nice, we could help my mom and dad too!" Lyra beamed.
Vadik and Vala, however, rolled their eyes. "Whatever the future king and queen command," Vala groaned.
Simha smiled and started to run towards his father.
"Did the Night Pride have anything to report?" Kion asked.
"Just that Baliyo collapsed as soon as he got back. Four territorial herds and five poacher bands in one night. Plus Kanda is asking for some time off to spend more time with her and Idan's cubs," Ono said.
"Gael should work. I'll tell Baliyo and Afia when we switch shifts tonight," Kion added.
"Dad, where do you need us?" Simha asked.
Kion and the others looked over to see Simha standing tall.
"He's definitely your son," Fuli chuckled.
Kion took a deep breath. "Soon, Simha, soon–"
"I don't know, we were younger than him when we started our duties," Bunga said.
"Please, dad! I wanna be a great king, like you!" Simha pleaded.
Kion put a paw on Simha's shoulder. "Simha, you will be a great king one day, but that doesn't mean you have to be just like me. If you want to help, why don't you search the kingdom for any hurt animals and bring them back here."
"Okay!" Simha cried.
The prince raced off with his companions before Vadik asked, "Where are we going exactly?"
"I don't know, running off seemed more dramatic," Simha muttered, a bead of sweat running down his forehead.
He turned and watched his father and the King's Guard heading off to Lake Pratibimba where they met the other guards. Lyra's father, Prince Rune and his Jungle Guard, Duke Advik and his Tundra Guard, and Mungo with the Island Guard.
Simha began pacing by the lakeside while Vadik and Vala slashed each other. Lyra rested beside her father and Kion watched his son.
"Simha, you can take a moment to breathe," the king said.
"Yeah, trust me, you'll need it once you become king," Beshte said while cooling himself off in the lake.
"But Cadoc said a good ruler is one who puts his subjects before himself. I need to be alert," Simha muttered and kept looking over his shoulder.
"Yeah but he's never heard of hakuna matata," Bunga laughed and stretched out on the lakeshore.
Hakuna matata, or no worries, something Simha's Uncle Bunga lived by. At least while not on duty.
"As much as I hate to say it, Bunga has a point," Fuli said. "You'll burn yourself out if you don't take some time to cool off."
"Exactly." Kion pulled Simha beside him by the tail. "Just lay down and relax for a minute."
The prince gave a deep sigh and did so, laying himself beside his father. Each minute of inaction felt like an hour and Simha's head craned up more than once, only for Kion to press it back down.
"To think you were once so playful as a cub," Kion chuckled.
"Dad," Simha moaned, avoiding the other adolescent lions' eyes.
"Aww, is the pwince not playful anymore?" Vala snickered.
"I seem to recall Surak telling me how much his daughter hated getting baths," Azaad said, earning a smirk from Fuli.
Vala went pink and shut her mouth.
"Lyra here was always good when it came to baths," Rune said and his daughter hid her face.
"Hold on!" Anga sprung up from beside Ono. "I see some saltwater crocodiles coming from the north, they look like poachers!"
"King's Guard, let's go!" Kion growled.
Simha sprung up, heart pounding, and ran after his father. Vadik and Vala followed but Prince Rune hesitated before finally letting Lyra up. The four adolescent lions followed Kion's King's Guard towards Marquise George's island where they saw various herbivores and smaller predators running from the shore.
"Hapana, look at the size of those crocodiles!" Ono squawked.
Simha caught his breath, he'd never seen crocodiles that big before. The prince's legs started to wobble as he stopped with the others on the edge of a sand dune. Kion, however, bore his fangs and let out a short roar.
It was as if the wind obeyed his command and a powerful torrent hurled each crocodile back a few feet towards the shore, allowing various animals in the surf to escape. The lead croc snapped its jaws at Kion who growled back.
"You must be new to these parts, so I'll break down the ground rules. No poaching. You want to hunt, do it like decent predators," Kion said.
"Who made you king, kitty-cat?" the crocodile cackled.
"Rani did, when she married him!" Bunga laughed.
Vadik and Vala joined in, and even Fuli snickered a little. The crocodiles, however, narrowed their eyes.
"How perfect, I guess that means we'll get a royal feast!"
"Very well. Till the Tree of Life ends!" Kion cried.
"The King's Guard will defend!" the others answered.
Kion charged straight for the lead croc, who dashed across the sand, kicking some up as he did so. Simha's heart pounded when the great predator opened his oversized jaws.Dad, please be careful!
Kion pivoted right, avoiding the bite and then slammed himself into the massive saltwater crocodile's side, flipping him over. The croc thrashed about, trying to get back upright, but Kion pinned him down.
"Yeah!" Simha cried, at least until one of the crocs came at Kion from behind.
"Twende kiboko!" Beshte shook the ground as he charged.
The saltwater crocodile's eyes went wide moments before the hippo hurled him into the air.
"Huwezi!" Fuli and Azaad raced around another saltwater crocodile, easily evading its bites.
"Not very fast on land, are you?" Azaad laughed as he and Fuli took turns slashing his sides.
"What are you supposed to be, some kind of skunk?" another croc asked Bunga who narrowed his eyes.
"What did you call me?"
Fuli and the others cringed.
"Oh no, they called him the skunk," Fuli said.
"Are you talking to me?" Bunga asked, making the crocodile raise an eyelid.
"You shouldn't have done that," Ono said.
"Are you talking to me?" Bunga growled.
"Now he's in for it," Kion said.
"They call me a honey badger! Ahhhh!"
Bunga revealed his razor-sharp fangs and claws before charging straight at the crocodile and jumping on his head.
"Yaah!" scales flew in every direction and the crocodile tried rolling around but Bunga mauled him.
"Hapana, the sea otter!" Ono squawked.
Simha and the others spotted a sea otter limping ashore. She had an enormous bite mark on her side and panted while another crocodile came up from behind.
"Anga lenga!" Anga swooped down and pecked at the croc's eyes, making it lurch.
"This is it! Come on guys!" Simha raced out past his dad, who slammed another croc onto his side.
"Ono!" Kion roared.
"I'm on it!" Ono swooped down over Simha and the others. "Just here to watch over you, Simha."
The prince's insides tightened a little.Dad doesn't think I can handle this.He tried to push the thoughts aside. Lyra hesitated but came up beside Simha as he helped the sea otter onto his back.
"Don't worry, we're here to help!" Vala said, licking the otter's wounds.
"Look out!" Ono squawked.
Another saltwater crocodile rushed them, at least until Ono flew over its open jaws and pecked at the eyes.
"Gaah!" the crocodile tried to bite him.
"Come on we'll–" Vadik started.
"We're leaving!" Simha roared before leading the others away.
Kion smiled hearing this and flipped the lead croc over again. Simha raced away with the others when they heard a grunt.
"Simha!" Lyra yelped.
The prince's heart sank after spotting Lyra tripped up with a saltwater crocodile close behind.
"No! Take her!" Simha handed the otter off to Vadik despite Vala trying to stop him.
"Get away from her!" Simha snarled and slashed at the side of the crocodile's face.
It hissed and lurched aside before bearing down on Simha.
"Get back!" Kion tore across the beach in moments, lifting the crocodile into the air despite its immense weight.
"Alright, funs over!" Fuli and Azaad sped the two adolescent lions to safety, leaving clouds of sand in their wake.
Back on the sand dune, Simha and the others watched Kion arch his head back, then let out a thunderous roar. The clouds above burst out with lion heads, each joining Kion until the roar sent every crocodile flying away.
"That never gets old," Vala laughed.
"Thanks, Simha," Lyra's voice quivered, her face bright red.
"I, uh," Simha gulped, not sure what came over him before.
"That was very brave of you, Simha," Kion said and patted his son on the head.
"Yeah, it's what Kion would've done," Bunga laughed.
Simha's cheeks burned a little.
"Alright, why don't you take the otter back to Nirmala and Makini," Kion said.
"Right, let's go," Kion said.
He had a slight spring in his step as he carried the otter back across the Tree of Life. His passenger let out a few "oohs" and "ahhs".
"It is quite nice, you should leave the island more," Vala said.
They passed through the pridelands where a few dozen brown-furred night lions and lionesses slept. Simha moved carefully past his Uncle Baliyo and Aunt Afia, who slept cuddled up next to each other.
"No, Rani, please, Afia didn't mean it," Baliyo muttered in his sleep.
"You'll never catch me, Rani," Afia giggled in her sleep.
Simha tried to navigate his way through, but there were too many lions. They'd wake someone up.
"We'll have to go around," Lyra said.
"Let's take a shortcut through the marshes," Vadik said.
"What? No, my fur will get all muddy!" Lyra moaned.
"What's wrong, afraid of looking bad in front of Simha?" Vala snickered.
"No," Lyra muttered, her cheeks bright red.
"It will be fine, you always look beautiful, Lyra." The words left Simha's mouth before he realized what he said.
The two adolescent lions went rigid, neither able to look at each other.
"Honestly, just nuzzle each other already," the otter said.
"Yeah, what she said," Vala cackled.
Simha avoided Lyra's eyes as they navigated the marshes. He didn't even notice how filthy his fur got until he was neck deep in a bog. "Oops."
"Simha, do I have to give you a bath like when you were a cub?"
The prince jumped at the sound of his mother's voice. Rani stood nearby with her council, each looking at a series of fallen trees and other wood. Lyra's mother smiled at her and waved.
"Your majesty, what are you doing here?" Vadik asked.
"We're trying to organize a few walkways across the marshes for non marshland creatures," Rani said and examined one flimsy looking tree trunk. "But it hasn't been easy."
"Do you need any help?" Simha asked.
"What about the otter?" Lyra said.
"Maybe you can, we need someone to test our paths to see if they can hold up," Earl Cael said while moving one tree into position.
"It would get us through the marshes faster, come on guys," Simha set the otter down by Bellezza, before walking across a bridge.
Vadik and Vala eagerly did the same, but Lyra hesitated.
"It's alright, dear, we'll clean you up later if you fall in," Lyra's mother said and nudged her.
Lyra took a few very careful steps, but tripped up again and splashed into the mud.
"Ahh! No!" thick brown muck stained her white fur.
"Aww, it's alright, I've got you–" Simha tried to pull her out but ended up falling in himself.
He grunted and tried to wade out but ended up pressing his snout against Lyra's. Both lions felt their fur stand on end before jumping out of the mud. Vadik and Vala burst into laughter until they too fell into the mud. Lyra's mother and Rani laughed louder than anyone else.
After navigating a safe path through the marshes, Simha set the otter down inside the Tree of Life.
"Ahh, let's take a look at that bite," Nirmala said while Makini applied herbs.
Simha sat down before the mural with Lyra.
"So many great kings and queens, you think I'll ever be one of them?" Simha muttered.
"I don't think so," Lyra purred before she nuzzled his face. "I know so."
Simha almost jumped out of his fur, but didn't stop her. Nirmala and Makini both smirked.
"About time."
Many years later, Kion and Rani rested beside the Tree of Life's exterior. Both no longer wearing the marks of king and queen. Instead, they basked in their retirement, having just abdicated that day.
All around them, animals from across the land gathered, including their four younger children and many nieces and nephews. The former King's Guard and former Night Pride also watched as an aging Makini drew the blue markings of king and queen over Simha and Lyra's foreheads.
"Let this day be remembered as the day which began King Simha and Queen Lyra's reign!"
"Long may they reign!" the Tree of Life's subjects cried.
Simha looked down at his two younger brothers and two younger sisters who beamed up at him. Moments later, Makini emerged from between the new king and queen holding their newborn cub, a girl.
Years later, Queen Rani VI, the daughter of Simha and Lyra would marry the grandson of Idan and Kanda, who would give her a son, whom they named Kion. King Kion II would likewise bear a son, continuing the circle of life for generation after generation.
Author's note
I hope you guys enjoyed my final Lion Guard fic. I hope I wrapped things up nicely.
I also wanted to let you guys know that I have been working on my own original fantasy story that I want to publish here. I would be very grateful to any and all who would give it a chance.