Remember Who You Are

Chapter 15: A Set Back

"Kion!" the Guard members cried out as they watched their friend hit the ground. "He's unconscious!" Ono cried out.
"We need to get him back to Pride Rock like now!" Bunga shouted, the worry clear in his voice.
"I got him," Beshte declared as he gently lifted his friend off the ground.
"I'll get Rafiki and Makini," Fuli said, racing off towards Rafiki's tree to fetch the mandrill and his assistant while the rest of the group headed back towards Pride Rock with the unconscious Kion.

A little while later the group had reached Pride Rock. They had meet up with Kiara, Zuri and Tiifu along the way and were now waiting outside while Rafiki and Makini examined Kion. Just then Simba returned from a walk with Nala. The King and Queen had been discussing their argument from before and after a good long walk the couple had made up and were now back to their normal caring selves. Zazu had gotten them to inform them of Kion's collapse. "How's Kion?" the King asked.
"We don't know yet Daddy," Kiara said, nuzzling Simba's front leg. "Rafiki and Makini are still examining him."
"What happened?" Simba asked, looking at the Guard.
"We're not sure sir," Ono said, tapping his wings together nervously.
"Yeah one minute he was fine the next his face lost all its color and he passed out cold!" Bunga cried out.
"Maybe he's having a relapse," Fuli suggested. "I mean that could happen right?"
"It could yes," Simba said with a nod. "I just really hope that's not the case. Just then Makini came out of the cave and approached the couple
"Rafiki wants to talk to both of you you Majesties," the young mandrill said. With that the King and Queen headed back into the cave. Kiara began to follow her parents but she was stopped by Simba.
"Honey I think it would be better if you waited out here," the golden King said. "We'll come get you when we know anything."
"Yes Daddy," Kiara said as she reluctantly went to sit beside her friends.
"Man talk about deja vu," Bunga said as he sat between Fuli's paws.
"Yeah tell me about it," Fuli grumbled. "This is just like when Kion got hurt at the gorge."
"I hope its not that bad," Tiifu said, her hazel eyes wide with worry.
"Guys don't be so negative," Zuri said, surprising everyone. "Kion needs all the positive energy he can get right now."
"Oh so now you care huh?" Kiara snapped, glaring at her friend.
"Look Kiara just because I think Kion is annoying doesn't mean I want anything bad to happen to him," Zuri said, rolling her blue eyes. "Sheesh give me a little credit."
"I thought you were still mad at him," Tiifu said, ignoring the glare Zuri was giving her.
"I am," Zuri snapped before she could stop herself. "And yeah ok maybe a part of me is glad this happened. But I don't want him to die."
"But you do want him to be hurt right?" Bunga said, crossing his arms and glaring at the tan cub.
"No!" Zuri cried out. "I mean maybe a little. I mean he kind of does deserve a little pain after all the pain he's caused everyone else. But..." Zuri trailed off as she looked at the rest of the group, who were all glaring at her. "Uh I think I'm gonna find my mom," Zuri said as she dashed away quickly to find her mother, leaving the rest of the group to wait.
"Man I hate all this waiting!" Bunga cried out, getting up and pacing.
"Bunga I swear if you don't sit still I'm gonna," Fuli began. But she didn't finish because just then Simba and Nala emerged from the cave, both of them looking worried.
"Mom!" Kiara cried out, running over to her parents with the Guard right behind her. "Daddy! What's going on?! Is Kion ok?"
"He's awake honey," Nala said, earning sighs of relief from everyone. "But he doesn't remember much of what happened. Or anything over the last couple of weeks that he's remembered sadly."
"So he's a clean slate again?" Bunga asked, sounding disappointed.
"Not exactly Bunga," Simba said. "Kion does have some memories. He know who Nala and I are and who Rafiki is. But some of his regained memories have gone again."
"But how?" Fuli wondered. "I mean Kion was doing so good lately. He was getting his memories back little by little. How could this have happened again?"
"That's what we'd like to know," Simba said. "Did Kion fall recently? Or hit his head perhaps?"
"Not that I know of," Kiara said, shaking her head. The rest of the group all voice their agreement.
"He was acting strange though," Ono commented. "I think he was getting some confusing memories."
"Hey yeah," Bunga said. "He thought Jasiri was Janja's mate and blew her back to the Outlands."
"Maybe using the Roar was to much for him," Beshte suggested. "And maybe it cause his brain to get overwhelmed."
"Is that possible?" Kiara wondered.
"It is indeed!" Rafiki said, suddenly appearing with Makini right behind him. "Dis is what I was afraid of," the old mandrill continued. "Kion has been doing to much and experiencing to much fer his still recovering brain to handle. Dat could explain de set back."
"We drew some blood just to make sure," Makini said, holding up a vial with Kion's blood in it. "But from what I've heard its most likely a case of 'to much information'. But we'll make sure that nothing else is going on."
"Can we see Kion?" Kiara asked.
"Of course," Makini said with a smile. "But don't stay to long. He needs his rest." With that the pair of mandrills left, heading back to Rafiki's tree.

Minutes later the group was inside the cave. When Kion saw them he smiled of the group. "Hey guys," the golden Prince said.
"Hey little brother," Kiara said, gently head bumping her brother. "How are you feeling?"
"Ok I guess," Kion said with a shrug. "Can't remember what happened though."
"But you do remember us right buddy?" Bunga asked with a smile.
"Oh I remember you alright," Kion said, wrinkling up his nose. "You're that smelly honey badger, Bunga. And the rest of my friends, Ono, Fuli and Beshte."
"Still think I smell huh?" Bunga said softly.
"Sorry but I do," Kion said, waving a paw in front of his nose. "Can you please not stand so close to me?"
"Sorry," Bunga said, going to stand by Simba.
"Kion," Kiara began. "How much do you remember exactly?"
"Well the last thing I remember is singing the Hukuna Matata song with Simba's friends," Kion said. "Uh what were their names again?"
"Timon and Pumbaa," Simba said with a smile.
"Yeah them," Kion said with a nod. "And I remember leaving the cave with Kiara."
"That was two weeks ago," Kiara pointed out. "You don't remember anything after that?"
"Not really," Kion said, shaking his head. "That's bad right?" The group all exchanged looks of concern but said nothing. "That's what I thought," Kion said softly as he lowered his head sadly.
"So let me get this straight," Kiara said, closing her eyes to process the information. "You don't remember what happened the day of your accident?"
"No," Kion said shaking his head. "Should I?"
"You were starting to remember that day," Ono pointed out.
"Yeah and a whole lot of other things too," Bunga chimed in. "Like how me and you met when we were babies."
"And you even watched the sunrise with me," Simba said. "You were saying how much you liked doing that."
"I don't remember any of that," Kion said, shaking his head.
"Guys I think that's enough for today," Nala said, seeing that Kion was getting overwhelmed again. "Kion needs his rest."
"Good idea Mom," Kiara said with a smile. "We'll let you rest little brother." With that the group began to disperse.
"Wait!" Kion cried out, causing the group to look at him. "I wanna know more about my accident."
"Honey you've had a hard day today," Nala said, nuzzling Kion. "I think you need to rest."
"I agree with your mother," Simba chimed in. "After all we don't want to overwhelm you again."
"Oh alright," Kion said, sounding disappointed.
"Hey it'll be alright buddy!" Bunga said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. "Sides when you did remember that day you were all kinds of confused."
"I was?" Kion asked, looking at his friend. "About what?"
"Bunga maybe you shouldn't," Ono began. But his words fell of deaf ears as Bunga continued.
"You said you remembered you and Kiara fighting that day," Bunga went on, ignoring the looks he was getting. "Heck you even said you remembered Kiara pushing you down the gorge that day."
"Bunga shut up!" Fuli said, smacking her friend hard.
"Oops sorry," Bunga said, realizing his mistake. But looking around at the stunned faces it was clear the damage had already been done.