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

37. An Exchange on the Hill

Bunga managed to sneak around and avoid the bulk of the fighting. He was focused on one thing and one thing only: climbing up that hill and saving Kion. He saw him just standing there next to Kopa and instantly knew that there was something wrong. With all the conflict behind him, Bunga began to scale the hill unnoticed. 

Kopa stood atop the hill taking noticed that Changamoto had now returned yet. What was taking her so long? Had that jackal given her trouble? No, she'll be here in a moment. The lion took a deep, slow breath to reassure himself that everything was going to be fine. Once he opened his eyes he was met with not Changa, but instead that honey badger from before. 

"How did you get up here?", Kopa asked sternly.

"Hey! I'm the one who's gonna be asking the questions around here! Like, who are you? And what have you done with Kion?", Bunga demanded. Kopa scoffed, but also respected the smaller mammal's bravery. 

"I am Kopa, the commander of the Outlander's forces. I am also the one who will free them from their suffering", Kopa explained. "As for Kion... In order to use the Roar properly I need a little help from him."

"So you took him over!", most of what the enemy lion's words went directly over Bunga's head, but he did understand that somehow Kopa stole Kion's roar.

Bunga looked at Kion who just stood there next to Kopa with a blank expression and glowing green eyes. Kion didn't even look at him, he just continued staring forward as if he was some kind of toy made of leaves that was waiting to be played with. It scared him and also made his blood boil. What had this lion done to his mate? Had he hurt him? 

"Well, he would have never agreed to assist me..", Kopa said in response to Bunga's allegation. 

"Whatever you're doing to him. Cut it out! Let him go!", Bunga demanded, balling his paws into fists. 

Kopa actually chuckled at the badger's little threat. "I'm sorry, but I need him to help me rid this land apart of the lions in power. It is because of them that all this had to take place."

Bunga couldn't believe what this lion is talking about. He's gonna wipe out the lions? Simba, Nala and Kiara, too? He couldn't let that happen. They're Kion's family; and he's Kions mate so that makes them his family too. He already did something very disturbing to protect his family earlier and he hoped he would not have to repeat that.

"Alright then! If you won't let him go then...", Bunga growled, preparing to fight. 

"So you want to challenge me?", Kopa scoffed. Who was this badger and what was he trying to accomplish? Did he think he could win or even free Kion's mind? 

"You bet I do! Zuka Zama!", Bunga cried out and prepared to throw himself at Kopa. Kopa as well was ready to face Bunga, but he was suddenly knocked off balance. Both Bunga and Kopa turned to see none other than Kupotea. 

"You!", Kopa snarled at the jackal that just wouldn't get out of his mane. Completely ignoring the honey badger, he swiped his thorn-sharp claws at the jackal who ducked at the last second. Kupo noticed that Bunga was there and flash him the quickest of nods before focusing back on Kopa. He knew that physically he stood no chance against the massive lion, but if he uses he agility he might stand a chance. So for every swipe of his claws, Kupo got out of the way. The lion snarled in frustration and slammed his front paws down instead of a swiping motion. Kupo couldn't get out of the way of that and caught a good nick in his ear. He hissed in pain and already felt a hot wet drip of blood running down his right ear. Taking a deep breath and mustering all the strength he could Kupo bolted forward and rammed into Kopa as hard as he could. 

Being caught off guard and taking the entire hit, both Kopa and Kupotea tumbled over one another forward and over the edge of the hill. Bunga stood stunned as the two fighting mammals tumbled down the hill in an instant. He looked over the edge to see that Kupo had the slightly dazed lion pinned, holding off Kopa as best he could. Bunga didn't even look back, bolting over to Kion. The lion continued to stand there with that blank expression.

"Kion! Kion! It's me, Bunga!", the honey badger said to his mate. Kion did not react at all to the words. 

"K-Kion. Come on. It's me. I'm here to save you", Bunga grunted, trying to pull the lion's front leg to move him. But he didn't budge an inch. 

"Please. Just...just say something to me....anything", Bunga pleaded, lifting his paws to the lion's muzzle and shifting it to allow both to look into each other's eyes. All Bunga saw was that deep green glow that made his blood run cold. Was Kion even in there? Was he...gone? No, he couldn't be. Bunga couldn't explain it but he knew that Kion was in there somewhere. He took a step back and tried to think of something, anything. It was from that distance he noticed that Kion had a mark on his shoulder. It, like his eyes, glowed a faint green. But how could that be when his mark was stolen a while ago. Bunga looked to his own shoulder and sure enough there was no mark to be seen. It clicked in Bunga's mind that this must have something to do with the "mind control" Kopa has over Kion. 

Bunga walked around Kion to get a closer look at his shoulder. Reaching up, he brushed Kion's mane fur to the side to get a closer look. It was a mark that was very similar to the mark he bared before but it was completely green. Bunga reached his paw forward to touch it, but Kion actually moved to the side. The quick movement nearly gave the badger a heart attack. He took a few steps forward and tried again and sure enough as soon as his paw hovered over the mark, Kion took three steps to the left. 

"Alright so that's how you wanna play it?", Bunga grinned. He bounded on all fours towards Kion and lept into the air, landing square on the lion's back. 

Kion began to hop around and kick his legs as if he was an angry zebra. Bunga actually found it a thrill. He'll have to remember to ask Kion to do this again when he was back to normal. Bunga clung to Kion's fur and reached at the mark. With one final stretch he touched it and instantly his vision went blank. He felt weak and he let go of Kion, tumbling to the ground.