I won't break, I won't break, Kion told himself. I can't break.

Pain seared through him as Scar raked his claws down Kion's side. Jua and Zira cackled as they watched. "What an entertaining thing to watch, don't you think, Jua?"

"Oh yes, agreed."

"Join us..." Scar whispered into Kion's ear. "All your pain, all your suffering will be over."

Kion raised his gaze to meet Scar's. "Never," he hissed.

"Very well. Time for more torture."

The scene switched. He was back in the Pride Lands standing on Pride Rock. He saw everything was barren, dead bodies lying everywhere. But worst of all, he saw his family. He ran down to them.

They were lying in pools of their own blood as it soaked the ground. "How could you do this to us?!" Simba screamed. Kion backed away. He saw that Simba was trying not to sob. "My son... I can't believe it." He raised his gaze to meet Kion's. "I can't believe you."

"Why did you do this to us?" Kiara asked him through tears. "We're your family! Your kin! How could you betray us like this?!" She shouted. "I used to love you! And I thought you loved me back."

When he rushed over to them, he saw them all sobbing. Fuli looked at him from where she laid on the barren ground. "Why did you do this?" The cheetah asked him softly. Her gaze then hardened. "Do you have any idea how much pain, how much heartbreak, how much sorrow I went through for you?!"

A huge wave of guilt washed over him. "I-I'm so sorry Fuli," Kion stuttered. He ran away from the Guard as fast as he could. He then tripped over something. When he got back up, he was horrified. It was his mother splayed splayed out on the ground. She didn't make a single movement. She wasn't even breathing. She had a deep gash in her throat. NO! "M-Mom?" He asked, hoping for an answer even though he knew that she wouldn't reply back.

"This is all truth, Kion." Scar told him. "You cannot escape it." "No Scar! This isn't true! It can't be true!"

"Oh but it can, and it is," Scar replied slyly. "Just you wait. You have the Mark of Evil just like me Kion. Your tears of blood destroyed them!" Suddenly Kion felt a burning pain in his scar, worse than any he had ever felt before. Scar then started running towards Kion, claws unsheathed. Kion tried to run, but Scar was too fast. Scar pinned him down. Kion heart was pounding out of his chest.

Scar started slashing him. Scar slashed him on his face, back, underbelly, legs, paws, everywhere. Kion screamed in pain. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Blood poured onto the ground. Kion tried to defend himself, but he couldn't move. Scar raked his claws across Kion's underbelly. The young lion screeched in pain.

"Please! Stop!" He screamed. Scar grinned evilly, he was clearly enjoying this. Kion dug his claws into the ground, grunting and wincing in pain. Tears of pain poured onto the ground, but they were not normal tears. They were blood. Tears of blood pooling out onto the ground. Scar put his claws on Kion's throat.

"Yes, it's very enjoyable to watch the Prince of the Pride Lands beg for mercy," Scar cackled. "Even though he knows perfectly well that he won't get any."
**

Kion screamed in terror. He painted heavily, trying to calm himself. Just a dream... Just a dream. Another dream...

"Kion?" Came a voice from behind him. It was Fuli.

"Y-yeah?" He asked shakily.

Fuli didn't reply. She sat beside him. Neither of them said a word. Fuli rested her paw on his shoulder. Kion glanced at her and sighed. She sighed too. She looked as if she had many things to say, but didn't utter a word.

They both sat there, watching as the stars started to disappear and got replaced with a rising sun.

Kion was the first to finally speak. "Well, we should get going." Fuli nodded and they both proceeded to wake up the rest of the Lion Guard.

Once the Guard were awake, they continued on. The landscape around them changed from forest to snow as they walked. Wow, the landscape changed a lot faster than usual, Kion thought to himself. The rising sun they saw earlier was no longer a rising sun, but a setting sun.

"Whew! I'm beat!" Bunga exclaimed as he hopped onto Beshte. "When do we settle down for the night?"

"Not now, we're so close," Kion told him, gazing ahead. He looked up at the martial eagle flying above them all. "Right Anga?"

"Let me see," she said. She flew up for a moment, then flew lower. The Guard walked over to her. "The last Moja Kwa Moja Stone is on the other side of the lake," Anga told them.

"We're almost at the Tree of Life," Ono said excitedly. I know! I can't wait!

"I know, finally. Anga, how long will it take to go around the lake?" Kion asked.

"It's pretty big," Anga informed him.  "Could take all night."

Kion raised a paw to his scar briefly. "Well then let's get going." Kion started to walk, but was interrupted by Bunga.

"Hey Kion, look at this." Bunga stepped on the lake with his paw. "The lake, it's hard."

"Bunga, the lake isn't hard. It's ice. It's so cold that it must've frozen over," Ono explained.

"Yeah, well it's 'ice' enough that we can walk on it, maybe all the way across," Bunga suggested excitedly.

"You really think it's safe?" Fuli asked doubtfully, cautiously tapping a paw on the ice.

"I'm not sure," Ono admitted. "It could be, but I believe we should test it first.

"How are we going to do that?" Beshte asked curiously.

"Maybe like that!" Makini enthusiastically pointed to Bunga who was skating on the ice, appearing to be having a great time.

Bunga turned back to the group, a big and wide smile on his face. "This is great. Hoo-hoo-ha! Come on out, the ice is fine!"

"I think Bunga's right." Kion gazed out to the frozen lake. Uncertainty lingered in his gut. "That looks like the fastest way to go, now come on." The lion took a step onto the frozen lake, and uncertainty lingered in his gaze once more as he almost slid. He argued his back and started to carefully tip toe across the lake, the Guard following suit.

"Whoa, it's slippery, " Makini said as she tried to walk. She then found she could use her staff to project her across the ice, "and kinda fun!"

"Is it?" Ono asked, then cautiously flew down to walk on the ice. The moment he landed he started slipping and sliding then landing on his bottom. "Ahh! Woah!" He quickly flew back up. "I think I'll just stick to flying."

Beshte paused on the ice. He looked at the Guard, fear flickering in his blue gaze. "You guys? I am not so sure this was a good idea." He paused to look at his hooves. A cracking noise was suddenly audible. "Uh oh.. the ice is cracking!

Kion was very alarmed. "Everyone, run for it!"

They all quickly made it to land, but a cry stopped them. "Help me!"

They all turned back to see Makini trapped in a piece of ice. She seemed terrified as the ice wobbled. What would happen if it tipped over?!

"Oh no, Makini!" Anga gasped.

"Anga, can you reach her?" Kion asked.

"The wind from my wings might tip the ice she's standing on," Anga told him.

Kion looked at Fuli, determination in his gaze. "Well then, it's up to us Fuli."

"Oh right, Huwezi!"

Makini reached out with her arm and staff to another price of ice connected to land. "Almost there..." She then accidentally put too much weight on the tip of the piece of ice and it tipped over, sending her into the lake. "Ahh!"

"Don't worry Makini, we'll save you." Kion rushed over to her and leaned over the tip of the ice, trying to reach her. He extended a paw towards her while Fuli grabbed his tail in her teeth to prevent him from falling in as well.

Kion, with the help of Fuli, finally pulled Makini onto the ice. She was soaked with freezing lake water and she was shivering very much. But somehow she managed a small smile. "Oh thank you Kion, thank you Fuli."

Fuli smiled at her. "No problem."

"Yeah." Kion also smiled. "Now let's get off this ice."

When they all got back into solid ground, Bunga smirked at them. "I had a feeling that hard water couldn't be trusted."

Kion gave him a 'seriously' expression and was about to reply, but a searing pain hit him. He could have sworn he saw fiery eyes glaring at him. He brought his paw up to his eye briefly. "Uh Makini, I think I need some Tuliza."

"Sure thing Kion." Makini reached behind her to grab her staff which held the Tuliza in a gourd, but the staff wasn't there! "Oh no, my staff!" Makini's ran towards the edge of the lake as her gaze flickered around, searching the area. "It must have slipped off when I fell in the water!"

Anga flew up, her sky blue eyes searching for the missing staff. "I don't see it anywhere. Must be under the ice."

Kion mentally sighed. "So we don't have any Tuliza?"

"Sorry Kion." Guilt was plastered on Makini's face. Kion saw this and tried to reassure her. "It's alright, at least now we're close to the last Moja Kwa Moja stone." He turned his gaze to the martial eagle who was flying back down next to him. "Right Anga?

"Yup. Right over there." She motioned with her large wing to a stone with a painting of mountains on it.

Ono hopped over to it. His expression changed to a worried one. "Oh no."

Fuli looked at him. "What is it Ono?"

"I just realized." The Guard walked over to him. He turned back to them, "without Makini's staff we can't bring the painting to life."

Bunga shrugged. "So?"

"So we can't be sure it's really a Moja Kwa Moja stone."

Makini sighed sadly. "Oh."

But doesn't he remember Rafiki's map? "But you remember Rafiki's map don't you, Ono? If this is the last Moja Kwa Moja Stone then the Tree of Life must be nearby."

"Hmm let me see. Nowasa..." The egret paused in thought. "According to Rafiki's map in the Lair, there's a narrow mountain pass up ahead and on the other side is the Tree of Life.

Thanks Ono." He looked up at Anga. "Anga, do you see a pass in the mountain?"

Anga flew up into the sky once more. "Let's see." After a few moments, she appeared to have found it. "Got it." She flew back down and motioned with her wing. "This way."

Bunga walked up to her. "Anga, do you see the Tree of Life too?" He asked excitedly.

Anga gave him a look that said 'how stupid are you?' "I can't see through mountains," the eagle told him flatly.

"Alright everyone, let's head for that mountain pass."

Fuli stepped closer to him. "Kion, I really think we should wait until morning. We don't know what's on the other side of that mountain. If we wait until sunrise we'll be able to see better."

While she was speaking, Kion's gaze flickered to two other gazes over to the right. He felt pain, though didn't show it in front of Fuli. He felt annoyance rise. I have to get to the Tree of Life. When I do, I'll be free and you won't be in danger anymore.

More annoyance rised. "Fuli, I'm not going to get any better just waiting here," he told her bluntly. "Now come on, let's go." He stalked off, not looking to make sure if the rest of the Guard were following.

His ears twitched to hear a voice behind him. "It's okay, Fuli. Once we get Kion to the Tree of Life he'll feel better."

"I hope so. All right, you heard Kion. Let's get going."

Kion broke into a run. He heard the Guard follow him due to the faint thrumming of their paws, hooves, and feet on the snow.

"C'mon everyone, keep moving." He was almost wild with excitement at the thought of finally reaching the Tree of Life. He would be free. Fuli and his friends wouldn't be in danger, if what he found out recently was true.

They reached the Mountain Pass. Some sort of buzzing was audible from the Pass.

"What? A beehive." Bunga's face lit up with excitement as he looked up at the source of the buzzing. "A beehive means bees and honey too! Mmm!" He hopped up onto the rocks of the Mountain Pass, making his way towards the beehive.

Kion stopped in his tracks. Fear flickered in his eyes as he gazed up at the rocks Bunga was climbing on to get to the beehive. "No Bunga, don't!" Those are loose rocks!

"Ah, don't worry about it, I'm fine." The honey badger continued climbing. "Almost there..."

Kion gasped as a few small rocks fell. Then more. "Oh no! Bunga, look out." Bunga fell from the high height. A terrible realization hit Kion as more and more rocks fell. "Uh oh, it's a rockslide! Everyone scatter!" The Guard didn't need to be told twice. They all ran out of the Mountain Pass, dodging the rocks just in time to not get crushed.

"Heyvi Kabisa, now the whole mountain pass is blocked," he muttered, frustration edging his voice sharply. I was so close. WE were so close! He felt his scar bug him again. Annoyance and anger rose whilst compassion and kindness were pushed down.

"Bunga, why didn't you listen to me?!" He yelled furiously.

The Guard stared at him, their gazes solemn. All of them looked like they wanted to say something, but held back.

Suddenly a terrible realization hit Kion. Is he... gone? Did the rocks... kill him...?

After a few moments of silence, Kion finally uttered a word. "Bunga?"

"I'm in here!" Relief swept over Kion at the sound of Bunga's voice.

"Little B, are you alright?" Beshte called

"Yup I'm good. It's kinda cozy in here."

Relief was replaced by fury at his aching scar. "And we're so close," Kion growled.

Makini walked up to him. "Shwari, Kion. It's alright."

Kion glared at her. "Alright? We've just blocked the only way to the Tree of Life." He hopped up on a rock, calling the group's attention. "Everyone, we have to clear these rocks now."

"And get me free, right?" Bunga asked, reaching an arm out of the hole in the rocks he was trapped in.

"That's right Little B," Beshte told him, amusement in his voice.

Fuli walked up behind Kion who was still scowling. "We could just leave him," she said sarcastically, hoping to cheer him up. Kion managed a small smile.

"Hey! I heard that!" Bunga shouted.

This only caused the felines to chuckle more. Fuli looked at Kion and smiled. "In all seriousness though, we better get him out."

"Yeah." They hopped down the rocks to where Bunga was. They pawed at the rocks, the it to find where the rock was being held in the other rocks.

"Hurry up!" Bunga begged. "Get me outta here!"

Fuli groaned, annoyance audible in her growl. "Stop moving!"

Typical Bunga. "Come on!"

They continued to try to move the rocks, carefully as they didn't want all of them to fall and crush Bunga.

"Let's keep going, and once we clear these rocks, nothing will stop us from getting to the Tree of Life." Determination echoed in Kion's voice. Nothing will stop me from getting healed.

Suddenly a voice called out. "Lada'i!"

"What?" Fuli asked, then gasped. "No!" She cried as a lion, bigger than Kion, knocked him off the rocks and to the ground. They suddenly engaged in a fight, each trying to get the upper paw.

"Fuli, I see more lions!" Anga told her. Indeed, there were more lions. A lioness about Kion's age, an adult lioness with a flower behind her ear, and a lion with long claws and a bushy black mane.

"What's going on?" Fuli swerved her head around in panic, obviously trying to get a glimpse of what was going on.

Beshte ran up to her. "What do we do Fuli?"

"Anga, Beshte, help me hold off the lions. Makini and Ono, keep working to get Bunga free."

"Got it."

"Okay," Makini replied.

"Affirmative," Ono replied.

"You got it Fuli." Beshte then dashed towards two other lion who were attacking "Twende Kiboko!"

"Jogina!" One exclaimed and both dashed out of the way, making Beshte crash into the rocks.

Anga dashed towards a lioness. "Anga lenga!"

"Nirmala, duck!" The other lion shouted. The lioness ducked in time and Anga missed.

"Thanks," the lioness told the lion.

Meahwhile, Fuli was fighting a lioness about her age. The lioness pounced, but Fuli dodged in time. "Hey!" She shouted, "I don't know what we did to you, but this has gotta be a misunderstanding!"

The lioness glared at her. "Misunderstanding?" She said sarcastically. "Is that what you call a rockslide?" The lioness pounced again.

Fuli dodged just in time. "The rockslide was an accident. We didn't mean to start it," Fuli said in between pants.

Suddenly, Kion and the first attacking lion rolled by, trying to get the upper paw in the fight. Determination coursed through Kion's veins. I have to win this fight. I can't lose this fight. 

"And your lion friend attacking my little brother is an accident too?" The lioness snarled. 

Kion growled under his breath. He attacked first!

"Makini and Ono, get me outta here! I gotta help fight!" Kion heard Bunga shout, determination to join the fight and help the Guard audible in his voice.

"We're trying but you need to stop squirming, you're making more rocks fall," Makini told him.

"Fine, then at least let me get a good view," Bunga pouted. He knocked Ono out of the way with his paw who was trying to help move the rocks. Ono squawked. "That's better," Bunga said once he obviously got a better view.  "Whoa, would you look at that? It's like we're fighting a Lion Guard made of lions!" He said while Kion and the lion were tussling. 

Kion scampered up the rocks, hoping the lion wouldn't give chase. Sadly, he did. The lion tackled him again and sank his claws into Kion's pelt. Kion threw him off. He stood on a rock, growling defensively. He stopped growled and tried to swipe at the lion, but the lion dodged and quickly jumped on a higher rock. Kion shook his head in confusion.

"You fight good, but I fight even more good," the lion taunted. He then jumped off of the higher rock and knocked Kion down. Pain seared through his back as he fell on more hard, cold rocks. He grunted, trying to conceal any weakness.

Kion quickly got to his paws and growled defensively. He stood up on a rock. "I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT WE'VE MADE IT THIS FAR NOW AND WE AREN'T ABOUT TO LET YOU STOP US!" He narrowed his eyes. Bloodthirst swept over him as he lunged for Baliyo. He unsheathed his claws, ripping the lion's flesh apart in his rage. In his rage, he dived for the lion's neck.

Suddenly something tackled him, knocking the breath out of him. "Lion, who are you?!" It asked. He looked up. He saw the young lioness that was his age. She had brown fur and chocolate brown eyes. She glared at him.

"What, who are you?!" Kion asked, returning the glare.

"I am Rani, leader of the Night Pride," the lioness introduced herself, glaring at him. There was fury and anger in her gaze.

"The Night Pride?" Kion asked weakly, the exhaustion from fighting kicking in.

"Yes. We protect everyone at the Tree of Life from those who might cause harm, like you and your roar," Rani said, obviously biting back a fierce growl.

"I'm sorry, we're really not a threat," Kion said softly, "I can explain."

Rani's anger didn't seize. "You may say that you and your friends mean no harm, but actions speak louder than words."

Fuli rushed behind them. "We're not here to harm anyone."

Rani glared at Fuli before getting off of Kion. She stood on a rock above them. "Thanks." Kion looked at Rani. "Rani, my name is Kion. My friends and I have been on a very long journey. We need to get to the Tree of Life to get help. I need help." The words 'I need help' clawed at his heart. He'd never though that he would be is this situation, this low in his life.

"I'm sure you do," Rani snapped, shocking Kion. "But you almost killed my brother. I could only imagine the damage you could do everyone living at the Tree of Life."

Kion's eyes widened. "But I-" 

Rani glared at Kion, anger burning in her brown gaze. "You and your 'friends' will never be welcome at the Tree of Life. Leave now and never return." Kion's eyes widened. Leave...? "Night Pride together!" Rani called. She and the rest of the so-called Night Pride gathered on the rocks, then disappeared to the other side.

"I don't  believe it," Kion said softly when the Night Pride were gone.

After a few moments of silence, Anga spoke; "So.. now what?"

"Uh, maybe get me outta here," Bunga called out from the hole inside the rocks.

"Yeah." Fuli glanced at him for a moment, her gaze full of sympathy. "Come on."

Once they were in ear-shot of Bunga, the honey badger began to speak. "Hey Kion you don't have to listen to her, you've got the Roar! Those lions won't stop us from going to the Tree of Life."

"Bunga, just because we can do something doesn't mean we should," Fuli chided.

"Really?" Bunga asked in confusion. He then proceeded with a very weak example; "Anytime I can eat a grub I do!"

Beshte walked closer to him. "Fuli's right Little B," he told him. "We want to be welcomed at the Tree of Life, not fight our way in. We did start the rockslide that blocked the pass, maybe the lions were just defending their home just like we would if someone started a rockslide in the Pride Lands."

"Does that mean we're not going to the Tree of Life now?" Makini asked, worry audible in her voice.

Kion glanced back at them and started to walk away. Probably not...

"No, we just have to come up with another plan," Fuli told her. "Right Kion?" She paused when she didn't get an answer. "Kion?" Kion ignored her. He continued walking further away. He heard Fuli's voice behind him. "Okay, for now let's just get Bunga out of these rocks."

XXXX

Kion walked back to his friends, looking down at his paws. The time might have come for him to accept reality. He might not get to the Tree of Life. He might not get healed. Neither would Ono, and it was all the lion's fault.

He saw Fuli pawing at some rocks around Bunga, and Makini pushing a bigger one. Almost... there." Makini finally pushed off the rock that was covering the top of the hole that Bugs was trapped in.

Bunga jumped out, the widest smile on his face. Hoo-hoo-ha! I'm free! I'm free!" He shouted. He jumped off the rocks and danced around. Phew!" He said, wiping his forehead. "Being trapped sure works up an appetite," he remarked. He then glanced up a the beehive he tried to get earlier. "Oh yeah, bees!"

"Bunga!" The Guard exclaimed loudly.

Bunga stopped in his tracks and scratched his head nervously "Oh right." He then apparently noticed that Kion was back and waved a paw at him. "Hey Kion look! I'm outta the rocks!" The honey badger exclaimed cheerfully. He bounced over to him. "Now we can go to the Tree of Life."

Kion barely averted his gaze from the ground as he continued walking towards the rest of his friends. "I'm glad you're out Bunga, but I don't think we can go to the Tree of Life."

Bunga stopped in his tracks and the smile instantly disappeared from his face. "What? Why not?" He then continued walking to catch up with Kion.

"Because I lost control. Again. Maybe the leader of the Night Pride is right," Kion admitted. "Maybe it's not safe to let me go the Tree of Life." He walked closer to his friends. "I'm sorry. I took you on this journey, you stuck with me through it all and then when we finally get here, I ruined everything."

He tried to avoid their gazes as they walked closer.

"Kion, we know you didn't mean to lose control," Fuli said, her gaze full of sympathy.

"Maybe if we talk to the Night Pride we can explain everything," Beshte said.

"Yeah, worth a try," Bunga agreed.

Ono looked at him, determination in his almost sightless gaze. "Don't worry Kion, even if we can't get to the Tree of Life, we can find another way to heal your scar. And we won't give up until we do."

Kion was touched by Ono's words. He's so selfless. He's nearly lost his sight and he isn't even worrying about himself... and meanwhile I was only worried about myself.

"You know Ono? You're right, we won't give up. Because my scar isn't the only thing that needs healing." Ono smiled gratefully at him.

"So, let's finish clearing the Pass," Kion told them. They obeyed. All of them, Kion, Bunga, Fuli, Beshte, Ono, Anga, and Makini pitched in. After what seemed like forever, they were finally done.

"You okay guys?" Kion asked. The others were huffing and puffing with exhaustion.

"We're alright," Beshte replied. "Just tired."

They then heard voices coming from the Pass.

"Keep it up! We need to find them before they've gone too far!"

"I still don't get why we're-" The voices were revealed to be the Night Pride. They gasped in shock

"They cleared the pass," the adult lioness remarked in surprise.

"And yet, they didn't continue any closer to the Tree of Life," another lion commented in reply.

"You're still here," Rani said, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Yes," Kion confirmed, "and I need to apologize. I'm sorry for using my Roar. And I undetstand if you won't allow me to enter. But could you let my friend Ono complete the journey to the Tree of Life?" He glanced back at Ono who looked at him in surprise. "He wasn't part of the earlier fight. And his eyes need healing. Please?" Ono hopped up to Kion and Rani.

Rani gazed at the almost sightless bird and replied. "Oh. Of course we will welcome Ono."

Ono smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

"But anyone who is willing to put their friend's  well-being before their own is worthy as well," Rani added with a small smile, "Kion, you and your friends are all welcome at the Tree of Life."

Kion gasped in surprise. Oh, thank you."

Bunga jumped off a rock and landed beside them "By the way, we're called the Lion Guard."

"Lion Guard?" The lion slightly bigger than Kion asked in confusion. "You only got one lion."

"Yeah. You get used to it," Bunga said, slightly shrugging his shoulders.

"Very well," Rani said, "Kion? Lion Guard? Follow me."

As they were walking, the lion that Kion fought walked closer to him, a wary and distressed expression on his face. "Hey, Kion. Just don't do that again. Ever."

"I won't. I promise," Kion promised, guilt sweeping through him. I was about to kill him before Rani stopped me...

They kept walking, rays of the sunrise bursting through the Pass. When they finally got out of the Pass, the Lion Guard could barely refriain from gasping. They all smiled.

There, not far from them, was a large tree. It seemed almost... mythical. Like something from a dream. It's leave and branches seemed to glow in the sunrise behind it.

"Lion Guard? We're here," Rani told them, glancing back at them. "Welcome to the Tree of Life."

The Tree of Life. I can't believe it! We're finally here. Ono and I will get healed. And when we get healed, we can all go home. Everything will be the same as it once was.