Peace for the Soul ~ A Lion King Fanfiction

Chapter 2: Rest Easy

I watched from pride rock as the Pride trained vigorously for weeks leading up to our day of reckoning. So many tough warriors, I only hope it will be worth it in the end. They rehearsed their grappling, pouncing and various take downs, day and night to prepare themselves for the brutal fight ahead of us. They are strong, but they haven't seen scars army, the utter desperation to win, because if they fail on the battlefield, they must face Scar, arguably a worse fate than joining the circle of life with honor in battle.

I sigh, it's been a long couple of weeks, the guard has had to pick up extra patrols to compensate for the prides continuous training schedule. A soft voice breaks my train of thought, "What's wrong, Brother?" I turn to face my sister "Hey Kiara, how are the Lionesses holding up?" She sits beside me, "They're ready, nervous but ready. What's eating you?" She got straight to the point, as always. "Something seems off, but I can't tell what." I face the outlands, "Kiara, for the first time since this war started, I'm scared." My sister looks at me, a small smile under her lips, she leans forward and give a friendly nuzzle. "Kion, you've got the best lions in the land on your side, and the kings of the past to guide you, you have nothing to fear."

We hear pawsteps getting close, and turn to face our father. "Kiara, I must speak with Kion, rally the lionesses and get some rest, tonight's a big night." She nods, "Yes, father." She politely said and walked off. My dad comes to sit next to me, and we stay there in silence for a few minutes. "I can tell something is troubling you, son. But know that you are ready for what you are about to face, I wouldn't task someone with something so important if I was uncertain." I turn to smile at him, "Thanks Dad, for everything. You taught me to be a leader, a fighter, but also a good and compassionate lion from an early age, and for that I will always be grateful." He ruffles my mane and wishes me some rest before the sun sets.

I walk off among the Pridelands, lost in thought of what tonight will bring. I think of my Pride, they indeed are strong and brave, but haven't tasted battle like my Guard has.

My Guard, my best friends since cub hood, my teammates that I have defended this land for years with. This Land, brought together by generations of lions before me, "I will not let any of them down." "Let who down, silly?" I pounced at a nearby bush, startled by a sudden voice, "Umeme?" I looked down at the fastest and only girl in the Guard. "Yes Kion, do I get to pounce you tonight now?" I got off, "Not happening, Because..." my tone dropped.

"Oh yeah, you holding up okay?" I turn to look into her eyes, then back to pride rock, "I'm scared, more so than I have ever been in my life." I turned to the outlands once again, "Kion, you can't still blame yourself for this." "Yes I can." I snapped, she recoiled back, "I'm sorry, I just can't get it out of my head, if I just had more self control." I think back to the day I lost my mother, and almost lost my Father, and I found out scar returned. My anger brought him back, Mine, Mine! "I must make this right, it's the only way to redeem myself."

She thrusts her head in my neck, "Kion, no one has blamed you for this, you did what you had to do and now I know you will do what you have to do. You're the fiercest lion I know and you will make it right tomorrow." She spoke in such a calm and serene voice it broke through every defense I had. I look down into her eyes, "Umeme, you always know just what to say." She blushed ever so slightly, "...and just what to do" she quickly added before she gave me a kiss on the muzzle. I lean into it, enjoying her company for the little time we had together. We slowly brake the kiss and stare into each other's eyes, not wanting the other to say a word, and spare the moment.

She rests her head on my shoulder, "Kion, you have been my best friend for so long, how can you expect me to believe the things you say about yourself? You know better than I you can't fight a fire with flame." It all comes back, the years of self blame and restless nights, in fact there hasn't been a single good night sleep I've had in years. Even when Umeme comforted me, I could never help but wonder what would happen had Scar never been brought back from the dead.

I look down into her eyes, those beautiful orbs of bright green. "Stay with me today, please." I ask her, "Of course silly, let's get some rest." We walk side by side back to pride rock, finally arriving to get some rest before the sun sets. Umeme lies down in front of me, nuzzling the top of her head into my neck and upper chest. 'Tonight's the last night' I think to myself before my eyes feel heavy and fall asleep.

I see myself in an open plain, surrounded by other animals in a circle, mostly cheetahs, but some others, a honey badger, a hippo, and an egret. I can't hear my own thoughts, I'm just forced to watch myself act. I hear chirping sounds come from nearby and with that, every animal in that circle turns to each other or to run. I run in the opposite direction.

"Kion, Kion wake up!"

I wake from my slumber to see my sister, "Kiara, what's wrong?" "Its time to go, little brother." I see that the sun has set, darkness engulfed the land, yet it was still so beautiful. "The Guard is ready when you are, Dad has gathered the pride and is waiting for you." "Let's go then, shall we?" We walk out of pride rock and I join the Guard, "Nice to see you awake." I say sarcastically to Umeme as she's licking her paws, "Sorry, you look too cute when you're asleep." Awkward.

I hear my Dad utter a low pitched roar, signaling it was time to go, we had to make the most use of our time. Everyone looked at each other briefly, sharing looks of anticipation, embraces and even a few moments of intimacy before we marched to the border.

We quickly made it to and crossed the outlands border, all bets were off now. The Guard would separate from the Pride just before the base of the volcano to better our chances of getting to Scars lair unseen. It wasn't long before we reached the first clan of Hyenas.

We crept our way to a concealed positions, ready for whatever would come next, if only I knew...