"That was Nala's roar?'' Mheetu asked looking at Rafiki with curious teal eyes, Rafiki laughed as he stood at the peak.

''Yes Mheetu, yes!'' Rafiki replied, "She is ready..It Is Time!''

''No, Rafiki.'' Eshe shook her head,''She can't possibly be ready, she's still a cub.''

The light brown lioness was then hit on the head once again with Rafiki's staff.

''Ow!" Eshe yelped before looking at the mjuzi while rubbing her sore head.

''Queen Eshe, you heard the roar!'' Rafiki reminded the queen of the pridelands. "You know the stories!"

''I heard it..it's just..it's a big responsibility,'' Eshe sighed, ''I need more time to prepare her.''

''You ran out of time, my love.'' Mheetu told his mate and best friend,''You need to tell her.''

''Tell me what, papa?'' Nala asked her tawny pelted father as she walked over to him.

Mheetu turned to his mate with a encouraging expression.

''Well..um..we need to talk, Nala.'' Eshe began after taking a deep breath and the princess instantly had a look of fear.

''Oh no..mama, we already had that talk. 'Can you feel the love tonight'!'' Nala sang in a completely annoyed tone.

Eshe looked at Mheetu and cleared her throat before looking back at her daughter. "No. I'm going to talk to you about something else..follow me.''

Nala was beyond confused but nodded and followed her mother.

Rafiki and Alistair along with the royal family headed down the slope and around Priderock towards a cave with vines hanging at the entrance.

''It's a bunch of vines, mom..what's so special about a bunch of vines?'' Nala asked before Rafiki ripped the vines off as the royal family and Alistair walked into the cave.

''What is this place?'' Nala asked in wonder.

''The lair of the lion guard.'' Eshe replied.

''The Lion Guard? What's that?'' Nala asked with her head tilted.

''The Lion Guard is the team that protects the pridelands and defends the circle of life.'' Eshe explained which caused Nala to raise an eyebrow.

''But mom, that's y-'' Nala started, but was interrupted.

"It was made that way before the old lion guard died.'' Eshe continued before Nala could finish.

''They...died?'' Nala frowned.

A bright light shined on a group of paintings on the cave walls.

''Many years ago before you were born, or me. The queen of the Pridelands whom I'm named after had two cubs. But the eldest wasn't exactly made to be king…'' Eshe started.

''Until you prove yourself as a worthy successor you will lead the Lion Guard!'' Queen Eshe I declared.

Many Seasons Later…

''Busara, Mega, Sinclair and Leo, listen to what we must do!'' Mufasa told his lion guard as he leapt on a ledge in front of his team.

''What must we do?" Mega asked his leader.

''You four must help me kill Sarabi and Taka so I can take my rightful place as king of the pridelands with you all as my advisors.'' Mufasa explained with a grin, but the guard just stood there,''Well?''

''Mufasa, the lion guard's job is to protect the pridelands and the circle of life, not kill royals just because our leader wants us to!'' Busara explained, ''Sorry..but we won't help you.''

''You what?!'' Mufasa roared his orange eyes blazing.

''We won't help you do such a criminal act just for your own desires.'' Leo said with narrowed eyes.

''You traitors!'' Mufasa roared causing the guard to cringe.

"Mufasa, please! We don't have to do this!'' Sinclair pleaded to his prince and leader, who then started to use the roar of the elders.

Busara got a chance to run back to pride rock and warn his mate and Sarabi about the tragic fate of the lion guard.

Unfortunately the rest of the guard were killed by the roar. Mufasa once again tried to use the roar again, but he could roar normally.

''W-What?'' Mufasa gasped confused as the mark of the guard disappeared from his shoulder.

Howling winds picked up as a ghostly image of a gold, reddish and light brown mane lion with ghostly gold eyes walked seemingly out from the clouds.

''Mufasa ...what have you done? You have used the roar for evil..so we had to take the roar away from you as a punishment..'' Mohatu's voice was filled with hurt and ashamed of what his grandson has became.

As the clouds rolled back into the sky the image of Mohatu vanished leaving Mufasa where he was as red eyes came from the darkness in the distance...

''Hevi Kabisa…'' Nala said with a stunned tone.

''The roar can be used for great good,'' Rafiki started, "But can also be used for terrible evil.''

''Don't worry, I will never be like Mufasa.'' Nala assured her parents and the mjuzi.

''That's good to know princess..because from now on..you are the leader of the new lion guard.'' Eshe revealed to her daughter.

''M-me? Come on, mom. You have to be kidding…'' Nala said until she saw the serious looks on her parents' faces, ''Alright, you aren't kidding.. Don't worry I will make you proud mom and dad!''

Mheetu smiled as Eshe leaned on him. The tawny lion nuzzled his mate before looking out of the cave. He knew that the Pridelands was in safe paws and he was already proud.

...

It was silent after the two friends left the Lion Guard lair. Alistair was full of questions but knew that after everything that they just heard, his friend was going through a lot.

As for Princess Nala, a lot of thoughts ran through her head. The Lion Guard? She has heard of the Pridelands Guard, but never the Lion Guard. Why now? Plus she has a very strong feeling that her parents are keeping something from her.

A pale paw on her shoulder caused the light beige cub to shake her head before turning to her best friend.

"Who's the first to be recruited?"

Nala turned her head as she continued walking as she thought about who could be in the guard. As thought about it she knew who were qualified to be apart of the guard.

Like Alistair, he's the bravest she knows besides her parents and her Uncle Sãhasí.

Alistair smiled before running ahead to block Nala's path. "I know you're searching for the bravest in the Pridelands, so before you go asking all the animals of the Pridelands-"

"-Alistair shut up!" the princess giggled before walking ahead. "The guard needs the bravest so I'm asking you."

Alistair smiled as he trotted to join his friend's side. "I won't let you down. So, who's next?"

The Watering Hole,

"Twende!" yelled a creamy gold, small light brown mane teenage lion as he pushed a large boulder out of the way into the water, causing the the boulder to make a huge splash wetting Nala and Alistair in the process.

Alistair shook his fur dry before glaring at Nala. "Are you sure Ahadi is the one?"

Nala giggled before walking over to their other friend. "You seen him."

Alistair groaned before following after the princess. Ahadi his older brother, Luis being the step-sons of Duke Malka, took active duties in the Pridelands.

Knowing their origins is anything but pretty, the brothers strive to prove they are nothing like their father.

"Ahadi, we need to talk."

Alistair knew who the other recruits were. A young eagle named Heimdall and Kiros' son, Shaju. Fuli's older brother Trail and his mate .

With the five of them they were the fiercest, the bravest, the strongest, the keenest of sight and the fastest. Together they were the Lion Guard that will protect the Pridelands and defend the circle of life.

~TLK~

"You three got scared of some little cub! A female no less!" Janja growled as the three hyenas that sat before him.

They lowered their heads. There was no use to explain what happened. When their leader gets into his rants, it's best to stay clear and not interfere.

At the sound of flapping wings caused the hyenas to look towards the valcano cave entrance to see Janja's spy and scout, Mzingo.

"Mzingo! What are you doing this far into the Outlands? Looking for leftovers?"

A young hyena, namednStark looked at Mzingo and seen the glint in the vulture's eyes. "No but I would be happy to-"

"Forget it!" Janja sneered. "Eshe's cub managed to cancel our lunch plans!"

Mzingo tilted his head. "So you know about Nala? That Eshe and Mheetu told her about the Lion Guard?"

Janja's eyes widened as he realized it all. The roar. He has heard many stories about the Lion Guard from his father, Banzai. That's when Janja was struck with a idea. "This is it, my friends! We can use this opportunity to our advantage."

As hyenas began to gather they were intrigued and confused.

"What are we going to do, Janja?"

Janja snarled before leaping on a high ledge gaining the attention of the rest of the clan. "The princess will be too busy recruiting to be protecting the Pridelands. So in the meantime we strike and we strike hard."

As the hyenas began to chant, Janja grinned before laughing. "Tonight we strike!"