Chapter 20: Home

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It all felt so surreal. Just like that, I was welcomed back into the pridelands with open arms. The cheetahs from the coalition that traveled with us were permitted to make themselves at home in the tall grass near pride rock. As I make my way out to the edge of the stone platform, I can't help but remember all the great and hard times I lived for here. This is my Family's kingdom, if I wouldn't have fought for it back then, who would've?

"Kion...!" I could never forget that voice,

"Kiara!" I turn and rush to embrace my sister, she is in tears,

"Kion, it's so amazing to see you! We thought you would never come back, or worse..." she purred, looking clearly distraught as she pulled from our hug.

"It's okay, I'm home." I nuzzle her to reassure her, as I nuzzle her gently, I pull her in closer.

"Boy, have you missed a lot!" She said in excitement, yet, such a small hint of worry,

"Shall we fill each other in?" I suggest,

We spent that entire evening walking through the Pridelands filling each other in. She told me about the clash with Zira's pride, her secret relationship with Kovu, and all the trouble she got into with her friends while I was gone. Unfortunately, one of those stories came with some grim news,

"Kiara? Where's the rest of the Guard?" My voice holds more worry in it than I intended,

She freezes, looking almost scared, then turning back to face me.

"They... they perished in the conflict with Zira's pride." She speaks in an uneasy tone, clearly spooked by something.

I just froze, unable to comprehend what I just heard,

"No, you can't be telling the truth!" I almost let out in a sob,

"I'm so sorry Kion." She embraces me yet again, but something is off, she is abnormally tense, more so than you should be when unraveling emotionally,

"Is that it?" Knowing and hoping that there had to be more,

She thrusts her head into my shoulder, still stiff and nervous,

"It's all I have to say... I-I'm so sorry..." she states weakly,

We sit there in silence for a bit, before we continue on our walk, promising me we would visit there graves to pay respect to my fallen teammates. We slowly begin resuming our conversation, as I tell her about the coalition, their history, the game of tears, the nightmares, and then Fuli...

"What's her name?" Kiara said joyfully,

"Fuli, actually, princess Fuli." I say with a subtle smile,

"Ooooh! A princess!" She said with a smirk,

"She's tough, fast, strong willed, and also kind. A true gift of the great kings. You'd like her." I say looking down, kinda flushed.

"Sounds like you do too!" I look down at her comment, missing HER at the thought of it,

"Your gonna be a great Father, Kion. Don't worry about it!" She reassures me,

"Thanks Kiara. I've missed you greatly." I smile looking back to my sister,

"Let's get you back to pride rock, you must be exhausted!" She ushers me back home.

Even though I wore a calm expression, I couldn't be more nervous, this probably would be the first real time I've talked to my father since the attack on the outlands. Was it all just in my head? What will he say to me? Is he really as ruthless as Kovu said he was? It could easily just be a coincidence. Regardless, I keep my guard up. Heshima must make peace with my father to bring his coalition back here, and every interaction counts. My thoughts get interrupted when a series of roars echo through the Savannah, this is it. I am at the foot of pride rock.


Numerous lions rush to embrace me, I had no idea this would be the homecoming I would receive. They all roar joy and pride, knowing that the 'Hero of the Pridelands' is home. I kinda forgot that I used to receive this much praise, I guess I got used to just being a normal fighter for a common species. Suddenly they all part, making an aisle of body's, beginning to bow, and as I look to the end of that aisle, I see none other than my Father, standing tall and strong.

"Today, we welcome home a great hero, warrior, leader, son..." his gaze meets mine, "and soon to be father of his own!" The pride roars again, 'hero...' what could that mean to me? He knows what I had to do, and that anyone of us would have done it.

I walk down the aisle of bowing lions, to meet my father with a low bow at the end of it. "Rise my son, there is no need for that here." I'm raise my head to meet his gaze, confusion overtook me as I saw something different in my fathers stature. It wasn't the way he was groomed, or his grin, or his build, what was it?

That's when I saw them, his eyes. His normal hazel and yellow eyes had been replaced with a darker yellow and shade of bright green. It wasn't just the color of his eyes though, I could easily see behind my Fathers innocent grin, there was something sadistic about the way he looked at me.

He suddenly growls...

"I always get what I want."

My world suddenly flashes in and out of dark,

I wake up heaving for breath, quickly taking in that I am once again surrounded by my pride. Regaining my breath, I slowly inch my way outside, feeling the cool breeze brush through my fur once again. That's when I notice that none of the Coalition is in their usual sleeping spots, right at the entrance.

I stick my nose to the ground and try to catch their scent, eventually getting a small scent trail, leading down from pride rock. That's when I saw them with several other lions drinking my the water hole. 'That's a relief.' With no other words said, I climb my way to the top of pride rock,


quietly being followed by a dark figure...

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