"So what do you think of Umjia, Ono?" Fuli asked, glancing at her bird friend.

The members of the current Lion Guard were hanging out at the lair after a busy day. The current and future Lion Guard had taken some bonding time that morning and after lunch, each Lion Guard had split up into pairs of trainer and trainee to work on the basics of each role.

"He's awfully quiet," was Ono's simple response.

At first, the white egret had been hesitant to train Umjia at all, being he was a new addition to the Pridelands and he was a leopard. But after Kion's words of encouragement, Ono had finally agreed to work with the kid. But even after all that, it was extremely difficult for the egret to even train Umjia on the basics of being the keenest because most of the bird's job was done flying, and that was an impossible advantage for the leopard to obtain.

"That's all you have to say?" Fuli pushed.

Ono sent her a glare.

"Let's move on to a different subject, Fuli," Kion suggested, picking up Ono's aggravation.

The cheetah rolled her eyes.

"How's Mtoto doing, Beshte?" Kion asked.

"He's doing as good as I expected, better in fact!" was the hippo's cheerful reply. "Mtoto is such a pleasure to work with! He's kind and fun and keeps the whole job light and interesting!"

"That's great," Bunga enthused.

Beshte's wide, toothy smile showed his agreement.

"What about you, Bunga?" Kion asked, turning to his little badger friend who was slurping up some grubs he'd packed for a snack. "How's your training going?"

"Great! Kito's just like she was in the older days, just more wise it seems." Bunga said. "Savanna's done a great job keeping her in shape, Kion."

Kion smiled at Bunga, but when his friend turned to continue talking with his fellow Guard members, Kion let his shoulders droop and his eyes fall to the rocky floor below his paws. He let his mind began to wander as he blankly stared at the curved and cracked surface that he sat on. His mind went to his days spent away from his beloved homeland and his family and great friends. He suddenly felt ashamed of what he'd done. Kion thought about how much he must've hurt Kito and his wife. He recalled the anger and pain in Savanna's eyes when they were on Diamond bluff and he suddenly just wanted to make it right with her.

"Kion!"

Kion jerked his head up and stared at Bunga with confusion written on his face.

"Yes, Bunga?" he said softly.

"A-are you okay?" Fuli asked, dipping her head down to look Kion in his downturned eyes.

"Excuse me," Kion said, standing up quickly and trotting out of the lair.

"That was strange. . ." Ono said as the Guard stared after their leader.

"He's been through a lot, just let him go," Beshte said.

---------------------------------------

"Dad?" I asked, watching my father step out of the lair, his face showing that he was immersed in his thoughts.

He lifted his head and spotted me, sitting in the shade under a nearby tree.

What's he thinking about? I wondered, tilting my head to the side.

My father slowly ambled his way over to me and took a seat by my side.

"What's wrong, dad?" I asked him, searching his glassy amber eyes for an answer.

"I'm just thinking about your mother," He replied with a shrug. "She's not too happy with me, you know."

"Yeah," I sighed.

Mom hadn't been the same since dad came back. She seemed like she was always on a short fuse and ready to blow without warning. I was stumped to why she couldn't just be glad that dad was back.

"What about you? Shouldn't you be hanging out with the other cubs?" Dad asked, raising his eyebrows at me.

Now it was my turn to shrug.

"I'm just taking a break, today was awfully eventful for all of us."

"I see," he nodded.

We sat in silence for a bit.

"I'm so glad you're back dad," I said, looking up at him from my lying position. "Everyone always said you were gone for good, but I never gave up hope. And here you are."

"Here I am," He said, smiling and leaning over to lick my forehead.

We shared a fond grin.

------------------------------------------

One week later

"On my mark!" Tian called, staring the two racers down with stern eyes.

Fuli and Kambuni stood side by side, each leaning down, each with their feet in an optimal position to sprint away. Fuli was staring, narrowed eyed at the race course laid in front of her as she rolled her shoulders back and forth to warm up and keep loose. Kambuni was glancing from Tian to Fuli to the road, her nerves anxious to begin the race and her mind ready to take the victory.

"Get set," Tian said slowly as he trotted ahead to the finish line so he could record the winner.

The two racers stood ready, both with hearts beating a mile a minute and both with their eyes on the prize.

"Aaaaannnnddddd. . . " Tian drew it out painfully. "Go!"

With the single word, both the cheetah and the ostrich were off and running, galloping surefootedly to the finish line. Fuli was in the lead, but Kambuni was on her tail.

The mentor and student pushed with all their might, each trying to get a jump on the other, each striving to be the best and own the title of Fastest in the Pridelands.

With one last surge of power and strength, the two animals lept over the finish line, triumph on their minds and exhaustion in their bones. They skid to a halt and waited for the dust to clear and for Tian's voice to announce the victor.

"Kambuni! You were so close this time! You lost by a whisker. A whisker, Kambuni!" Tian called excitedly, stepping over to the two with a wide grin on his lips.

"Wow," Fuli said, panting for breath as she turned to her pupil with pride in her green eyes.

------------------------------------------

"This one is all for you, Mtoto," Beshte said, stepping back and eyeing the blocked trail where a mountain of boulders was stacked high from a mudslide that occurred hours before. "Let's see how much your training has paid off."

"I have to do it all?" Mtoto asked, turning his eyes to the boulders in disbelief.

"I have faith in you," Beshte smiled with a chuckle at his student's surprise.

Mtoto took a deep breath and stepped up to the stack that was two boulders above his head.

"Here I go," he said, winding his trunk around the first rock.

------------------------------------------

"Umija, in order for me to train you, you have to communicate with me!" Ono cried, burying his face in his wing.

The black cub turned his round eyes to see his trainer, who had almost given up on him due to his lack of replies.

"I-I'm sorry Ono," Umjia said, watching the egret.

Ono sighed deeply and shook his head side to side, trying to regain his thoughts and shake off the stress of training.

"Okay," the bird said, keeping his eyes on the ground as he searched his mind for an idea of how to train this cub. "How about we focus on the silent hunting part of the lessons today. Those seem to be your strong suit."

"Okay, Ono," Umija said quietly.

Ono gave another shallow sigh and gave his student a long stare before he turned to explain his training exercise for the day.

"Come over here, and stand under the acacia tree." Ono directed.

Umjia did as he was told, almost completely silently. Ono hated the constant silence with Umjia.

"Now, I need you to find Kito. Find her and pin her to the ground, without her finding out until she's on the ground. Got it?" Ono said.

Umjia nodded with his hunter green eyes wide open, in the roundest circles Ono had ever seen.

"Good. I'll watch from above. Go ahead and start."

------------------------------------------

"Quit yelling at me!"

"I wouldn't have to yell if you would listen to me!"

"I don't have to listen to you! You're not my boss!"

"Guys! Guys!" Kion called above all the screaming. "That is enough!"

Asha and Koda stopped yelling at their Uncle's words.

Koda kept his anger filled eyes on his sister as he ran his tongue over his teeth, tasting the blood from his fresh mouth wound. His tiny future mane was hanging down in his eyes, showing the rough physical mistake that had just been made.

Asha looked absolutely ticked as well, evidenced by the way her thin tail was whipping back and forth, although her anger had been sparked in the defense of her own hide. The firey glare she sent her brother was proof that she didn't even feel sympathy for his painful misfortune.

"You two are going to have to learn to get along if you ever want the Royal Family and the Lion Guard to work in harmony! As future leaders of two of the Prideland's highest leading positions you two must learn to respect each others' authority and decisions!" Kion lectured.

Koda growled. Asha scoffed.

"Koda, I know how hard it is to learn to respect the fact that your sister is higher in command then you are. I know how hard it is to act with obedience and trust to a queen who was once your playmate, but if you ever want to lead the Guard the right way, you must try to agree!" Kion said, his face showing his sternness.

There were a few moments of tense silence.

"Do it again," Kion said, stepping back and watching them intently. "This time, listen to each other and communicate!"

Koda gave a loud huff and finally pulled the leaf blindfold back over his eyes.

Asha did a quick examination of the path in front of her brother, then returned her eyes to him.

"Okay," Asha said. "Take three steps forward."

Koda took a deep breath and shakily stuck his paw forward. He took the first step slowly, but then rushed the next two.

"Careful!" Asha called out as Koda grazed one of the lair's walls with his ear.

"You said three steps! I took three steps!" Koda yelled, standing still as a statue.

"I didn't say run three steps!" Asha growled.

"I didn't run!" Koda wailed.

"Focus!" Kion demanded.

Koda clamped his mouth shut and growled quietly.

"Turn slowly to the right and take a step," Asha said, narrowing her eyes.

Koda turned very slowly to his right and took one more step forward.

As Asha continued to guide her brother in precise directions, Kion watched very intently from a nearby lounging rock. He watched how tense Koda was at all times, causing him to overstep and hasten his movements. He watched how Asha's instructions were exact and clear.

Kion's head began to fill with thoughts of how to train Koda to trust more. His fear and anger were causing him to be put in more danger.

"You're near a cliff, Koda. Be careful." Asha said.

Koda immediately tensed up.

"You better not screw this up, Asha," Koda muttered.

"Hush your mouth and listen," Asha snapped.

"Guys!" Kion growled, sending Asha a glare as he stood up and climbed down the rock to go next to Koda in case if an accident. "You're almost there!"

------------------------------------------

"Wow! Great job, Mtoto!" Beshte said, his mouth shining with a smile.

"Thanks," Mtoto said, trying to catch his breath.

The mountain of boulders was now spread all over the place and the passageway through the hills was clear and ready for use.

"I couldn't have done better myself," Beshte beamed.

"You're just saying that." Mtoto smiled.

"Not at all!" Beshte enthused. "I just hope the other members are making this much progress!"

------------------------------------------

"Be very careful, Koda. You're inches away from falling off the edge." Asha said, inching closer to her brother as she gave her instructions. "One side-step right."

Kion followed his nephew at the bottom of the cliff, watching as the cub tettered on the brink of the steep rock while his sister gave directions.

"Lean over to your left. The branch is right there just don't go too far or you will literally fall off the edge." Asha said.

"You're so great at comforting words, Asha," Koda said sarcastically.

"Focus, Koda!" Kion called up.

"Okay, okay," Koda grumbled.

The two lions held their breath as Koda leaned down and put his nose on the solid rock surface, running it carefully to his left. He felt the acacia branch brush his nose, so he slowly opened his jaw and clamped it shut on the branch.

With a victory cheer from Asha, Koda lifted the branch high into the air for the two of them to see.

------------------------------------------

"Why do I have to take this quiz thing while everyone else gets to go through rough training and hardcore courses?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"Because, Kito," Bunga said, looking me in the eyes. "I need to know how brave you think you are."

"Ugh, this is stupid," I grumbled quietly under my breath.

I never understood most of Bunga's odd actions, but this was a new level.

I began to wander around under the cluster of trees we were standing under as Bunga prepared for the quiz.

I boredly watched the flock of birds twitter about as I wandered back and forth. . .back and forth. . .back and-

"Kito, would you stop pacing? Pick a spot to sit down and we'll start the test." Bunga said.

"Fine," I sighed, glancing around to find the most appealing place to lie down.

I sat down in the shade and glanced around to make sure nothing more interesting was happening an anywhere nearby. Unfortunately, there was not another living creature within a yard radius. Just my luck.

"Okay, I'm ready," I mumbled.

"The first question is more of a scenario: You're on a lunch break with your friends and a strange cobra slithers up to you. What do you do?"

"I'd ask it to identify itself and if it attacked, then I'd defend myself and my friends," I said, raising my eyebrow in his direction. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Kito, all will become clear at the end of the quiz." Bunga said, giving me an overexaggerated wise face. "Hopefully," he added softly.

"Hopefully?!" I cried.

"Chill out! I'm only joking," Bunga laughed.

"Ugh,"

I plopped my body on the ground and sprawled out. I knew this was gonna be long and boring, so I was fully prepared to take a nap to get out of it if necessary.

I was about to close my eyes as Bunga began another question, but I heard him slow down like something else had caught his attention. And suddenly, he let out a very quiet chuckle.

I cracked open my eye and examined my trainer, trying to see what had made Bunga so happy. But unfortunately, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Until I was jumped from behind.

I was rolled onto my back to see Umjia's grinning face, framed by the partly leave covered sky behind. His deep green eyes were sparkling with joy at his successful capture.

"I did it, Ono!" Umjia said softly as he stared me in the eyes.

At first, I was angry. But then when I saw how happy Umjia was at his little victory, I realized he must not have been doing too well with his training. So I let it go and decided to indulge in his joy with him.

Umjia quickly stepped off me and I lifted myself off the ground as Ono made his landing nearby. I turned to my friend and gave him a wide smile of encouragement.

"Great job!" I said, shoving him with my shoulder in a friendly way.

Umjia's laugh showed how over the moon he really way. I laughed too, beacuse I had just found a way to get out of the stupid quiz!

------------------------------------------

"I want to congratulate all of you teachers and students on your progress. You've all bonded in some way or another and, while some have come farther than others, you've all developed in this short time with the training that has been done. While we are in no way ready to pass the torch to you young creatures yet, we are seeing plenty of promise in your works. I applaud us all," my dad said, causing all of us to exchange smiles.

All of our training was going as well as could be and everyone was learning quickly and readily. Dad had called us all here to meet and have a celebration with everyone who meant something to the Guards. We were hanging out, eating special meals, sharing stories of training, and later we were all gonna watch the sunset and gaze at the stars in the moonlight.

"I would like to thank the King and Queen for being here, along with my wife, Savanna, and my sister-in-law, Vitani. And I would also like to thank Asha and Tian for all their help during the whole training process. They've been a big help and I cannot thank them enough for that." My dad said, nodding to everyone. "And now, without further ado, let the celebration begin!"