Zuka Zama Part II: The Scourge of Kopa | The Lion Guard

3. Rally & Reunions

The sun was high over the Savannah, the raw heat clung to the air. Just outside of Pride Rock stood rows of Pridelanders; Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Rhinos, even Oryx and Zebras stood firm in their positions. Near the from lines stood the royal family: the king Simba, the queen Nala, and the future queen Kiara.

"Not long from now we'll be standing against the greatest threat the Pride Lands has ever seen", Simba announced.

"And we must put everything we have into this. Or it could be the end of the our home. Of the Pride Lands", Nala continued. Kiara stepped forward, looking down as if thinking of what to say.

"This land will one day be the domain I rule over. So I have to defend it with everything I have", Kiara finished.

"And you won't have to do it alone!", the three lions looked up behind them to see Kion and the rest of the Lion Guard scaling down Pride Rock.

"Kion?! But aren't you injured?", Simba asked, bounding up to his son.

"I know that things aren't making sense anymore. I lost my mark and now we're at war. But it is my duty as Leader of the Lion Guard and Prince of the Pride Lands to be there for my family, friends and my home. The Pride Lands will not end...", Kion roared in triumph.

"...because the Lion Guard defends!!", the rest of the Guard cheered.

Behind them roars and cheers of determination and the stamps of animals behind them. Seeing this moment of the royal family. The King, Queen, Princess, and Prince all standing tall for their homeland.

"Kion...", Simba paused and simply bowed his head to his son. He was truly touched, even without his roar and the injury he suddenly suffered yesterday all put behind him; and now here he was taking up the front lines with the rest of his family.

"Kiara! Kiara!!", the young lioness turned round to see her best friends Zuri and Tiifu bounding up to her.

"If you're fighting we are, too!", Zuri yowled.

"Yeah, we're in this together!", Tiifu agreed, flexing her claws. Secretly she hoped that there wasn't going to be any actual fighting. She wanted to keep her nails in their perfect condition.

"Girls.... Thank you", Kiara ran up to her best friends, nuzzling them close.

Amidst all the cheers and acts of affection Fuli cleared her throat, "This is all sweet and all, but isn't there a battle to prepare for?"

"There sure is!", this time a new voice came towards a rather tall patch of grass not too far from them. The grasses were parting very quickly towards them.

"It's an ambush", Kion snarled. He and Bunga rushed up to meet the foes head on.

Almost immediately the intruders reached the end of the grass and leaped out, ignoring Kion pouncing on Bunga. Bunga let out a half cry of surprise as he was quickly snuffed under the intruders. Kion turned to his side snarling as Bunga was completely buried under a wriggling mass of fur.

"Rrr!! Get off of him!", Kion snarled again, pouncing towards whoever the assailants were.

"Hey! Hey! Watch it for a second!", As if from nowhere, there was Timon on the back of Pumbaa. "We aren't here to hurt anybody. At least...not anyone on this side!"

"What then who--", Kion quickly got his answer as the ones on top of Bunga got up. He was underneath laughing heartily.

"Hey, guys", Bunga greeted warmly, still on the grass.

Kion actually took a moment to look at them and realized it was the honey badger brothers Mkali, Muinuko, and Jino.

"We heard that there was a fight going on and if you're fighting it we'll be by your side", Mkali gave a wide, toothy grin. Bunga smiled as well, extending his paw up. Mkali pulled him up.

"Yes! We're gonna beat some stinky hyenas!", Jino bounced up and down, throwing mock punches.

"I'm not much of a fighter....But if my brothers are in, so am I", Muinuko sighed.

"Yeah, yeah that's real sweet and all. But what the heck is going on?!", Timon yelled, jumping from Pumbaa. "What's this talk about both our boys running off into a fight?"

Both Simba and Bunga looked down awkwardly as the entire Pride Lands watched the Bravest of the Pride Lands and the King himself being scolded by a meerkat. Behind them they could hear both the lions and the Lion Guard members snickering behind them as Timon was laying in on both Simba and Bunga.

"Uncle Timon, please. We gotta fight this is our home. And it's actually....a war", Bunga sheepishly responded.

"A war!? A WAR?!?! And you two didn't tell me?! What are you two meshugenah?!", Timon raved.

Geez, I'm starting to sound like Ma, Timon thought to himself for a split second.

"Timon, please calm down. You're making a scene", Simba sighed in embarrassment at the continuing laughter behind him.

"Uncle Timon.... We're gonna be okay", Bunga said softly, leaning down to talk to the meerkat face-to-face. "I promise you that".

"But...", Timon was about to protest, but Pumbaa stepped forward.

"There gonna be just fine", Pumbaa nodded to both Bunga and Simba.

"Thank you, Pumbaa", Simba bowed, getting a glimpse in his mind from his days as a cub, bring looked over by the meerkat and warthog.

"Well....If you're both going to fight... So I am", Timon took a deep breath placed his hands firmly in his hips. "Someone has to be there to look out for you"

"What?!", Pumbaa snorted at the sudden announcement. Timon? Fighting? "Well, if you are I am, too"

"Oh, I knew you wouldn't let me out there alone, old pal", Timon beamed, hopping on Pumbaa's back.

"Well....Now that that's decided...", Simba stood up tall to try and save what little dignity he had left in the situation. "I guess we really are prepared. For anything. They'll be over the horizon any moment"

Kiara stalked around the lions to find her brother. "Uh, Kion? Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Yeah, sure.", Both siblings slowly walked away towards Pride Rock to talk in private behind some boulders.

"So, you know we have to fight the Outlands", Kiara started.

"Yeah"

"And the Outlanders have lions, too. Scar's lions", Kiara continued.

"Uh, yeah. Where exactly are you going with this?", Kion tilted his head in confusion.

"Look, Kovu is going to be on the opposing side. If you see him..Please don't fight him", Kiara begged.

"Well, Kiara.... Um....Well. Here's a promise I can make you: As long as Kovu doesn't attack me, I won't attack him", Kion promised his sister.

"Thank you, Kion. Really, thank you", Kiara tackled her younger brother and nuzzled him affectionately.

Oh man. What am I getting into?, Kion sighed to himself.