Chapter 7: The stand off

Hey guys, sorry it's been a little longer. Production on all stories but this one will be shorter. I'm recovering from some tough news and exams are coming up! By the time I'm done I will be 17 years old... Thats weird... But im still working on this story because this story helps me process what has happened, so here we are. God is and stays good to me and he wants to be there for you too. Enjoy the chapter.

'Just a little further.' Bunga commented, seemingly digging through some fresh mud. 'Found it.' He said a few seconds later.

'Entrance to your houses are all cleared.' Fuli told the aardvarks.

'Just our luck again.' The animal said, clearly annoyed by the situation.

'Thats the third mudslide this week.' Ono commented.

'It sure is getting crazy.' Beshte commented.

'We can find a solution to that.' Simba responded.

'A solution, to a mudslide?' Ono said, not very confident in the words of Simba.

'There must be something right, come on.' Simba ordered. The others followed him.

'Kion had never found a good solution for this problem, and he has a roar.' Bunga told Fuli as they ran after Simba.

'Simba is the king, we must follow his orders.' Ono responded.

'Doesn't mean he always has the right solution.' Fuli commented.

'Whaaat? The king knows the answer to everything. He's the king for a reason.' Bunga said. He took a deep breath put a step forward. 'YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN THE PRESENCE OF GREA-'

'BUNGA!' All the other members of the guard said, cutting off the honey badger.

'What? It's catchy.' Bunga said.

'Not after 15 times.' Fuli commented. 'But Ono is right. He's the king, we have to follow his orders.'

'No, I'm right.' Bunga said before catching up to Simba first. 'Found a solution yet bro?' He asked.

'Do not call me bro.' Simba said, not a big fan of the honey badger. 'Beshte, can you carry this big flat rock?'

'I sure can your majesty.' Beshte responded, approaching the big flat rock. 'Twende kiboko!' Beshte said, quoting his usual catchphrase which translates to let's go hippopotamus in Swahili. The rock was now on Beshte's back, it was huge, but manageable. 'Where to?' Beshte asked.

'Back to the aardvark caves. We must create a way for the animals to safely reach in and out of their dens.' Simba explained.

'Ehm Simba, I don't think that's such a good idea.' Fuli responded.

'Are you questioning my leadership skills Fuli?' Simba asked, not in the nicest way. The crew arrived back at the aardvark den entrances. 'You can put it down here Beshte.' Simba told Beshte.

'I'm not questioning your leadership your majesty, it's just that aardvarks' dens are probably...' Fuli couldn't finish her sentence. Beshte put the big heavy rock on the ground with a bang. The ground began to shake, lines of ground suddenly sank about a meter deeper than it used to be. 'Not very strong.' Fuli finished.

'What just happened?' Simba asked.

'THATS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW TOO!' An aardvark said, arising from a piece of collapsed ground.

'That big rock has ruined the entire underground system the aardvarks have made.' Fuli informed the king.

'What a mess!' The aardvark commented.

'Is anyone stuck?' Fuli asked the aardvark. The aardvark looked around, multiple other aardvarks rising from the messed-up ground. 'Seems like everyone is fine, but our home isn't.' The animal commented.

'It is also unsafe, there could be more cracks in the floor.' Ono added.

'Sorry your majesty.' Beshte said to the king.

'Where are we going to stay now?' The lead aardvark said, clearly annoyed by this disruption.

'Good question.' Fuli commented. She then looked at the king wondering if he had an answer.

Simba looked around, his head making the final verdict that in fact, the aardvarks could not stay here. They needed another place to build their underground homes, whilst not messing up any of the grounds on the savannah which were already weak. He then looked at pride rock and then to the shadow of a nearby tree to determine what time of day it roughly was. 'Ono, lion guard. Have a look around for a better home for the aardvarks, I'll be back soon.' Simba ordered, before walking off himself.

'Great, now we have to do all the dirty work.' Bunga commented.

'The actual dirty work comes after we have found these animals a new home.' Fuli responded.

'She's right.' Ono commented. 'After this we have to clean the area so it can start the process of healing.'

'Says the one who won't even help clean.' Bunga said.

'How would I possibly help?' Ono responded.

'You're lucky to be so small.' Bunga said.

Ono didn't even attempt to respond, just showing a very confused face to the honey badger.

'Come on guys, we have a lot to fix.' Fuli said, the team splitting up to find the aardvarks a new home worthy of the greatness that those all to noble aardvarks possess.

Simba arrived at pride rock; he walked past the adult lionesses chilling on the rocks that lead up to pride rock. Many greeting the king as he walked past. Simba calmly went up the rocks to pride rock, at the same time seeing Kiara make the journey in the opposite direction. 'Where are you off to?' Simba asked. 'Mom wanted me to get some fresh air, so I'll be at lake matope.' Kiara explained.

'Okay, have fun.' Simba said, letting his daughter go and continuing up the rocks to pride rock. Once arrived he entered the cave inside. Kion was still in his place with no sign of waking up. Simba heard Rafiki sing his usual song. The one that once caught his attention when he was all alone figuring out who he truly was. As English people would sing; ha squash banana heu ne neu ne.

'Rafiki?' Simba said, wanting to see the monkey.

'Simba, haha.' Rafiki responded. 'Coming five times a day is not going to speed up the healing whether you want it to or not.'

'I'm sorry Rafiki, I can't help myself. Things are not going as I hoped they would.'

'Leading the lion guard is harder than you thought?' Rafiki asked, seemingly not surprised by the king's comments.

'Well, yes.' Simba responded. 'I thought this would be easier.'

'Well, let me ask you a question your majesty.' Rafiki offered. Simba nodding in response. 'Were you ever the second born in your family?'

'No, I'm an only child.' Simba responded factually.

'And so, did you ever receive the roar of the elders?' Rafiki asked.

'No.' Simba answered.

'Look my friend. Even though as a king you may feel it, you are not the fiercest lion. Kion was chosen for a reason.' Rafiki revealed.

'So, I could never lead the lion guard? But how would we fight a threat from Zira?' Simba asked.

'Simba, you are so worried of losing the control you have, whilst in fact, it is the opposite you need to understand what the lion guard, with or without Kion, is truly capable off. I know what those friends of yours say. Sometimes things happen and there is nothing you can do about it. But what they didn't mention was, that these things happen not to ruin your life, but to make you and your mind stronger. It all has a deeper meaning only the one above understands.' Rafiki explained. 'I must continue my drawing; I think you have places to be.' He added, before putting his mind back to the drawing on the wall.

'Thanks for the wise words Rafiki.' Simba thanked his monkey friend before leaving himself. He took one more look at his son before leaving the den. 'Must be a very good reason.' Simba said in his mind, he wasn't satisfied.

Simba walked back down his home and mighty rock. After passing the resting lionesses, he noticed the savannah was quiet, way to quiet. It's a clear sixth sense within him, because the animals are living as normal. Simba walked the lands, scanning for any danger along the way. There was something on the horizon, Simba could feel it. He had to find it soon. Simba walked on a little hill which gave a clear sight to the very flat and plain grasslands around him. He saw something moving in the grass, he had a feeling what was on the horizon. Simba roared loudly before entering the grasslands towards the unknown that laid ahead.

As Fuli, not far from there, watched the aardvarks finally dig into their new homes, she heard the roar, as did everyone else. 'Wa?' Bunga immediately commented. 'Was that a roar?' Beshte added.

'It was.' Fuli responded, keeping her ears in the wind to listen for any further sound.

'THE roar?' Ono asked.

'No, a normal one.' Fuli answered. 'But that doesn't mean less trouble. Ono?'

'On it.' Ono said, before launching himself into the air to search for danger. He looked around and then saw Simba in the grasslands. He zoomed in to see what stood opposite of him. 'Hapana!' Ono commented, before turning around immediately. 'Guys, Guys! Zira is back! She, four of her followers are facing off with the king!'

'What do we do, what do we do.' Bunga said, running around like a headless chicken eventually coming to a stop running into Fuli's legs.

'How are we gonna face off against lions who probably took down our leader?' Beshte commented, feeling powerless.

Fuli quickly looked around thinking of how a king and four lion guard members could stop five desperate lions. She then turned her head to pride rock, and an idea popped in her head. 'We don't have to.' She told her friends. 'Follow me.'

Simba stared down the infamous lioness standing before him. 'Brought some friends this time?' Simba said.

'Oh well, I thought they could witness the day I'd win back what belongs to Scar!' Zira responded.

'Step down Zira. These lands belong to the circle of life. They never truly belonged to Scar!' Simba responded.

'How dare you! Lions fight to get what they want. Scar was the only one who actually did so. He only was worthy enough to challenge his brother!' Zira said angrily.

'By doing things out of the rules of the circle of life.'

'The circle of life makes you weak Simba, as your followers. You think your strong, whilst in fact, you are powerless. Just like that little cub of yours.' Zira said with a smile.

Simba roared in anger. 'Leave my sons name out of your mouth. You have blood on your hands, and so this Scar. You nor any of your followers could ever successfully rule these lands!' Simba said angrily.

'Watch me.' Zira commented.

'Don't you want your kids to see what transpires out of this battle?' Simba said.

'Oh Simba, I wouldn't bring my cubs into enemy territory. Unlike you!' Zira responded with another smile.

Simba roared again. 'Last chance Zira, return home. You, and your followers, are not welcome in the pride lands.'

'I'll take my chances.' Zira said with a devious smile on her face. Suddenly she saw something appearing on the hill. A single bright yellow cheetah appeared, seemingly all on her own. 'HEY!' It yelled. Grabbing the attention of everyone in the standoff. 'You heard the king, step down or face defeat!' Fuli continued.

Zira paused for a second, then bursting into laughter. 'And who must you be?' She said, unable to stop laughing.

'Fuli looked beside her, the rest of the lion guard appearing by her side. 'We are the lion guard. Protectors of the circle of life. You are banished from this land, which is why we are here to remove you and your followers.' Fuli said strongly.

'You, the lion guard, with one lion?! You must be joking!' Zira responded mockingly, laughing loudly. 'And how would this lion guard, currently with No lion, plan to remove me, from the land that doesn't belong to you!' She continued to laugh.

'The circle of life is protected by the lion guard. But the pride lands Isn't only protected by us. It is protected by all who live in it!' Fuli responded. She looked on both sides again. Four lionesses appearing on either side of the lion guard. Zira was now more than outnumbered, her smile disappeared from her face and turned serious. She growled; her head was in war. The war had turned against her instead of for her, but this chance wouldn't come again for many years. 'Fine, have it your way. Know this is far from over! I will be back, you'll see! Simba, lion guard.'

Everyone stood strong and proud as Zira turned around, her followers quickly following her. Ono flew overhead making sure the lions truly left the pride lands. He then returned. 'They have left the pride lands your majesty.' Ono reported to the king. The other members of the lion guard also came to the king.

'Everything okay your majesty?' Beshte asked.

'Yes Beshte, thanks to all of you.' Simba responded.

'I'd say more like Fuli.' Ono commented.

'I was brave too!' Bunga added.

'So brave.' Fuli said sarcastically.

Simba smiled. 'I think I owe all of you an apology.' He spoke. 'I'm sorry for coming in and taking over so suddenly, that's not what I should've done. I should be there to help you, instead, I made your job harder. Kion made an untraditional choice, but it was clearly the best thing he could've done. You are all more than qualified to protect this land.'

'Thank you, your majesty. We learned from the best.' Fuli responded.

'The very best.' Bunga added.

Simba smiled. 'I guess you guys should return to patrol.'

'Want to join us your majesty?' Fuli asked.

'You want me to join, even though I messed up?' Simba asked.

'We may not understand and follow your way of leading. Maybe it's inspiring for you to see another way to help and protect the lands.' Fuli said. 'Besides, keeping our heads busy with this is healthier than sitting around waiting all day.'

'Point made, I accept the offer.'

'Okay, let's go.' Fuli said. Everyone following Fuli, continuing their patrol.