Son of a Legend

Part 14: The Fire

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" Koda says after hearing what Vitani said. "Kion's dead!?" He asks, very much in shock. Vitani sighs. She has tears streaming down her cheeks. Koda looks at Simba and Nala. Simba is hugging Nala while she is trying her best not to cry. He sees that Kiara is hanging her head, Kopa is weeping softly to himself, and Laika is crying into Leah's shoulder. The members of Kion's Lion Guard all hang their heads. Kasi and Misuli both put their hands over their mouths as they tear up a little bit. Kushona stands at attention and bows his head to honor the former leader of the Lion Guard with a moment of silence. "Oh no. I'm so sorry for your loss, everyone." Koda says as he goes up to Vitani and hugs her.
"Thanks, Koda." Vitani says as she wipes her tears away.
"Did he just not wake up from his coma, or what?" Kasi asks from behind Koda.
"I think it's best if we take you back to Priderock to tell you." Kopa says. Simba and Nala nod their heads in agreement. Koda walks over to his father and helps him up.
"Are you alright, dad?" Koda asks Kovu.
"No, but I'll live," Kovu grunts in pain. "I'm sorry I attacked you, son."
"It's alright, dad. I forgive you. But why did you guys attack us?" Koda asks his father.
"That's something else we'll tell you when we get back to Priderock." Kiara says from behind the father and son. The group walks back to Priderock. When they get close, Mkali's Lion Guard smells burnt grass and burnt rock. They get over a hill and see that all of the grass within 20 yards has been burnt completely, and Priderock is charred in many spots. All of the air leaves Koda's body as he connects the dots. Kion died in a fire, and it burnt all of Priderock. He looked at the rest of his cousin's guard, and judging by the looks on their faces, they had made that same realization. They walk about 10 yards in front of Priderock, and then the whole group stops.
"I know you guys can probably connect the dots, but let me explain to you exactly what happened." Vitani says to the group. They all sit down and listen as Vitani tells the story.

1 week earlier (Vitani POV)...
Kion and I woke up from our comas about 2 weeks after we had that fall. We were filled in on how the Lion Guard had left for the Tree of Life to get his scar healed. Kion and I were shocked to hear that our son had tortured Uovu to death, but I couldn't really blame him. I would've done the exact same thing. As for Zira coming back as a head of fire, I don't even know how that's possible. Kion had to take charge of his Lion Guard again, just until Mkali and his guard came back. After a year of not hearing anything from or about them, we had to assume that they had died. I had outlived my son and failed as a mother. I was heartbroken. Fast forward 18 months. Kion and his guard had just come back from patrol.
"How'd patrol go, Kion?" I asked my husband.
Kion nods his head. "It was good." He responded. "Not as good as the feeling of coming home and seeing you." I pushed him playfully. We both laugh and get into bed.
"Love you, Vitani." Kion told his wife.
"Love you, too, Kion." I said back.
We slept for about 3 hours before we were awakened to smoke. I thought nothing of it, so I kept my eyes closed to try to fall back asleep, but when I felt Kion get out of bed, I opened my eyes and sat up.
"What is it, Kion?" I asked.
"Priderock's on fire! We gotta get everyone out of here!" He whispered back to me in an urgent tone. "You wake them up! I'll get everyone out of the main den! You wake these guys up and get them out of here! Once you do that, have Fuli go to the elephants and tell them we need their help putting out the fire!" We give each other a quick peck on the lips, then we go our separate ways.
"Guys! Wake up! Priderock is in fire!" I yell. Smoke starts to flow into the den.

Kion POV...
I run out of the Lion Guard lair and look up at Priderock. It is in a full blaze. I could hardly see Priderock through the flames. I start to climb up Priderock, but as I do, I see the silhouettes of 5 lions running away, each of them carrying some sort of fire starting material. There were 3 males and 2 females. I made himself refocus. I ran into the main den and started to wake everyone up. "Guys! We need to leave! Priderock is on fire!"

Kovu POV...
"Guys! We need to leave! Priderock is on fire!" I hear Kion yelling. I wake up and see smoke filing into the den, along with an orange blaze outside of the den.
"Kiara! Wake up!" I start to shake her awake. "Kids! Wake up!" I go and pound on the doors of Leah and Asha's private dens. I see that Kion has woken up Simba, Nala, and Kopa. We all run out of the den and down Priderock to get away from the fire. Priderock is engulfed in flames.
"Any ideas on how the fire started, Kion?" I asked him.
He coughed some before he answered. "Priderock was set on fire by a group of 5 lions. 3 males, 2 females," He tells us.
I see that the entrance to the Lion Guard den is blocked by fire.
"Are Vitani and the guard in there!?" I ask, worried.
"Nope! We're right here!" Bunga says from behind us. We see that Fuli, Vitani, and Ono are missing from the group. "The rest of them went to get the elephants so that they can help put out the fire!" Bunga says like he was reading my mind.
"Roll call!" Simba shouts out. "Nala!"
"Here!" "Kiara!" "Here!" "Kovu!" "Here!" "Kopa!" "Here!" "Leah!" "Here!" "Asha!" There is silence. "Asha!" Simba calls out again. Silence. I start looking around for her. My heart stops when I hear a fant scream come from Priderock.
"Mommy! Daddy!" I hear Asha scream from the main den.
"Asha!" I yell. Kion starts charging back up Priderock. I try to follow him, but Kopa stops me.
"What are you doing!? I need to go save my daughter!!" I yell at him.
"We can't have everyone charging back up there! Kion has the best chance of saving her! We need you to stay down here! We can't let the king die!" Kopa yells. I know that he's right, so I go over to Kiara and Leah.