"There's nowhere to run."

Darkness surrounded Kion as he tried to drag himself upward towards the exit of the Tree of Life, but failed. He was too wounded to try and escape.

Jua stood over him, snickering. "You'd better not shout now. Wouldn't want to wake everyone up... and let them know..."

"P-please n-n-n-no..." Kion begged. "I-I c-c-can't take m-much more..."

"Then Fuli gets it," Jua snickered. "You wouldn't want that, would you?"

Kion's eyes widened. "No!" He shouted in protest.

"Then you'll do what I say. Keep away from Fuli. Keep away from all of them. And if you don't... let's just say that a certain someone might get more hurt..."

"Okay, okay... anything to keep her safe." Kion had no choice but to bow his head in submission and prepare for more...

"Good choice, weakling. Soon... your heart will be way more scarred than your eye... though I don't doubt it already is..."

Kion cried out in pain as she tortured him. I have to do this.... if I don't.... something could happen to the ones I love... I can't let that happen.

Though one thought lingered in his brain; What did I do to deserve this?

*

Fuli frolicked through a bright field of flowers. She was chasing a butterfly through the beautiful field. The sun shined bright in the cloudless blue sky, lighting up the flowers. The flowers were all different colors like that of a rainbow. Speaking of rainbows, one shone near the sun, lighting up the sky with color. 

Then suddenly, faster than she could say 'Huwezi', pain shot through her leg and all went dark.

The next thing she knew, she was surrounded by darkness.

Then, she was surrounded by three lions. Somehow, she found that this seemed... familiar.

"HELP ME!" She cried. Pain ruptured through her as she tried to fight back, but couldn't. She nearly cried her eyes out from the pain. She reached out and dug her claws into the ground.

That's when she realized - her paws were slightly bigger and a different shade of gold.

Wait... what? Oh no... not again, she realized. I'm Kion... again.

Blood trickled from her wounds and onto the ground.

"Yes! Yes!" Jua cried.

"Hahahahahaha!" Scar cackled and ran his claws across her side.

"No.... No...!"

*

Her eyes snapped open and she woke with cold sweat. She shivered and shook, turning her head in different directions swiftly. Soon enough, she realized that it was all a nightmare and slowly calmed down.

She looked around more. Judging from the light that shone from outside the Tree, it was the middle of the day. Nirmala wasn't there - Fuli guessed she was out collecting more herbs. 

She tried to stretch but pain shot through her once more. Oh.. right... the injury... She thought sadly and sighed. Jua's words ran through her again.

'I just made sure you won't walk again either.'

Fuli sighed sadly. "Why, why me?" She blinked and tried to prevent herself from getting worked up and crying. What happened, happened and there was nothing she could do about it.

"I'm really sorry... I'd do anything to make it up to you..." A voice mumbled. She turned her head around and noticed that she was still in Kion's embrace, and he in hers. He was twitching and flinching all while asleep. "I'm really sorry Fuli... I'm sorry... I..."

"I know..." She mumbled out loud and sighed sadly. Kion, all while asleep, shifted closer to her and cuddled up beside her, trembling.

Fuli barely paid any mind, just wrapped her long tail around him and stroked his golden pelt comfortingly. Her mind, however, wandered somewhere else. Self pity overwhelmed her. "We're both hopeless now..." She murmured to herself. "We're doomed... What'll happen to us? What'll happen to me? I can't run anymore... I'm gonna lose my place among my friends..."

"Not him," a voice echoed.

Fuli looked up in surprise. It was Janna awakening for the first time since the other night.

"Queen Janna... how are you...?"

"I'm alright, my dear. Now just know that no matter what, Kion would never replace you."

"What...? How do you know?"

"I know many things," the queen told her, giving an answer she gave often, "but I can see in his heart that he would never replace you or any of his friends. You mean too much to him."

Fuli sighed. "Okay... but... can I ask you a question?"

"Ask away," Janna replied calmly.

"Janna... I want you to answer honestly..."

Janna motioned with her paw to continue.

"Do.. do we even have a chance at healing...?" Fuli dared to ask.

Janna turned her head away, but not before speaking the seventeen mysterious words that have plagued Fuli nearly the entire journey to the Tree of Life and beyond.

"When water and flames meet, scars and secrets will bleed, and the trees will blaze with fire..."

Just then, Kion perked up and opened his eyes. "What...?" He asked drowsily, then looked at Fuli.

"Kion, you're awake," Fuli remarked.

Kion sighed. "Yeah.. and...?" He laid his head back on his paws and looked at Fuli. "Will the rest of the Guard and Night Pride be okay?"

"Yes, don't worry," Janna cut in, reassuring him.

"How do you know?" Fuli asked. "You just woke up now."

"I told you before, I know many things. Now get some rest - you need it," Janna told them.

Kion sighed and laid down, a sorrowful look in his eyes. "Okay."

He actually listened? Without saying a word to question if that's the best thing to do? Fuli's mind questioned. That isn't like the usual Kion I know. Then she reminded herself; This isn't the Kion I know...

Kion stared at her and lifted his head off the ground, guilt written on his face. "Fuli... how does it feel?" He asked softly. 

Fuli noticed out of the corner of her eye that Janna was asleep then. "How does what feel?"

"You know..." Kion fidgeted with his paws. The corners of his eyes got watery. "I don't know how to say this... but... I want to know how you feel... about never being able to run again." An aura of guilt spread around the two. "Because I... want to help you the best I can and... if you ever need someone to talk to... I'm here."

Fuli was touched by his words. "Yes... I'd love that." She saw his sorrowful expression. "And I want you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you too."

Kion looked away. "Thank you," he said, his voice breaking.

Sorrow spread around them, emitting from both of the felines. They embraced each other in a hug and wept. They both trembled in each other's embrace and nearly cried their eyes out.

"Are we... gonna be okay?" Fuli asked as she trembled.

"I don't know..." Kion answered unsurely, also trembling, "but what I do know is things can't be all bad."

"What do you mean?"

"Well... as long as we have each other... we'll be okay."

Fuli smiled and hugged him tighter. He did the same. Fuli looked into his eyes. "And no matter how bad it gets, we'll always be on each other's side. Right?"

"Always," he agreed and managed to smile at her.

"But... Kion, can you tell me how you feel?"

"Oh... um..." Kion tried to back away. Nervousness surrounded him. "I... I... can't..."

"Kion...

[Fuli]

I know you may feel alone

But you won't be

'Cause I'm with you

And I know you may feel like you're on your own

But I want you to see

That I'll always be here for you whenever you're sad or blue

So don't you feel alone

Don't you feel alone

Because wherever you may roam

I'll always be by your side

You are my home

It was hard leaving behind everything I've ever known

But when I'm with you, anywhere feels like home

You are able to make a rainy day seem like one with sunshine

And you are always here for me when I cry

And it was hard for both of us to go on this hard journey

And now we face tragedy

But whatever happens

But whatever happens

I will be here

For you

This is true

I will stand beside you

You are my best friend

I wouldn't trade you for the world

And if everything ends

For us, I want you to know I'm not lying when I say these words

I love you

More than you know

I love you

And I can't let you go

You mean everything to me

And you mean everything to me

You're more than just love

You are my best friend

And we'll be friends

Till our ends

Friends till our ends

Friend till our ends

Your my friend

That won't change

Despite what anyone may

Say

I see your suffering, and I know that you may feel alone

But you won't be

'Cause I'm with you

And I know you may feel like your on your own

But I want you to see

That I'll always be here for you whenever you're sad or blue

So don't you feel alone

Don't you feel alone

Because wherever you may roam

I'll always be by your side

You are my home

It was hard leaving behind everything I've ever known

But when I'm with you, anywhere feels like home

You are able to make a rainy day seem like one with sunshine

And you are always here for me when I cry

And it was hard for both of us to go on this hard journey

And now we face tragedy

But whatever happens

But whatever happens

I will be here

For you

And you'll be here for me

Through all the trials and tragedy

You are my best friend

I wouldn't trade you for the world

And if everything ends

For us, I want you to know I'm not lying when I say these words

I love you

More than you know

I love you

And I can't let you go

You mean everything to me

And you mean everything to me

And we are friends

With an unbreakable bond

We are friends

We keep each other strong

[Kion]

And I know we've been growing further apart

On this journey we accidentally leave each other with broken hearts....

I'm only pushing you away

To keep you safe

[Fuli]

I try to help and I never understand

Why you always command

Me to stay

Away

[Kion]

I wanted to keep you safe!

[Fuli]

Let me in

Let me through

You should know you don't have to

Live like this

Please, know that I miss

You, the you that you were before all this

[Kion]

Fuli, I care about you a lot!

That's why I can't reveal her plot

I want to keep you safe

[Fuli]

I want to help!

[Kion]

Stay away

I have to keep you safe

[Fuli]

I don't need protecting

I can put myself at risk

Because I miss

You!

[Kion]

Don't you know that I miss myself too?!

Fuli don't you know I care so much about you?!

And this is the only way

To keep you safe

[Fuli]

But I want to

Help you

[Kion]

You CAN'T

[Fuli]

Well I will

[Kion]

No... if you do she'll kill-

[Fuli]

LET ME IN

[Kion]

I have to

Protect you

[Fuli]

I have to

Help you

You're feeling alone, lost, you're feeling the worst!

[Kion]

You're in danger and I can't let you get hurt!

[Fuli]

Open up to me

[Kion]

I can't let her see

The pain

[Fuli]

Show me your sorrow

I can help you change the rain

Into sun

[Kion]

No, I don't deserve help!

It's all my fault that you can't run!

[Fuli]

It's not your fault!

[Kion]

Convince me it's not!

[Fuli]

Oh c'mon, just let me help

I can free you from Jua's plot!

[Kion]

No one can free me

I'll be trapped in a cage

So

Go

I want you safe!

Please, I beg you!

To

Listen!

[Fuli]

I won't

You mean to much to me too!

And I'm not going to

Throw away everything we've been through

[Kion]

But Fuli please do!

[Fuli]

I CAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN'T

"Fuli please!" Kion begged through tears. "Please! You mean too much to me for me to just let you die!"

"Well you mean too much to me too! I can't lose you Kion! I'm not going to throw away everything we've been through together!"

"Fuli please..." Kion broke down into tears. He collapsed on the ground, crying. "Please... I... I..." He paused and shivered. A short silence followed before he continued; "I love you and I can't let her..." His breathing intensified and he trembled intensely. 

"Kion, let me in. I can help."

"NO!" Kion screeched at the top of his lungs. "I DON'T DESERVE HELP! IT'S MY FAULT YOU CAN'T RUN! I DESERVE TO DIE! I WISH I WAS DEAD!"

"Kion don't think that!" Fuli shouted.

"WHY?! DON'T YOU SEE?! IF I WASN'T EVER ALIVE YOU WOULD ALL BE HAPPY! I RUINED ALL YOUR LIVES! I WAS THE ONE WHO PUT YOU ON THE STUPID LION GUARD IN THE FIRST PLACE! I WAS THE ONE WHO SUMMONED SCAR AND MADE OUR CUBHOOD TORTURE! I WAS THE ONE WHO DRAGGED YOU ALL ON THIS HARD JOURNEY! AND NOW I'M THE ONE WHO'S A DANGER TO ALL OF YOU BECAUSE OF JUA! EVERYTHING WOULD BE BETTER IF I WAS NEVER BORN!"

"Don't say that!" Fuli protested.

"NO! I'M GOING!"

"Going where?!"

"To end my suffering," he growled lowly.

"No!" Fuli protested. "Please... you have so much to live for...!"

"But... what if I don't want to live?" Kion asked, his voice trembling. "What if... what if I don't want to stay here and suffer..."

Fuli had no answer for that, just helplessly stared after the lion as he got to his paws. It must've been very painful, judging by the heavy sobs and pauses that came from him whenever he made a movement. But he seemed he didn't care, just limped out of the Tree. Fuli would've chased after him, but her leg wouldn't let her.

"Kion... please come back..."

Kion stopped in his tracks at her desperate words, but didn't turn around. "Fuli, would you rather have me live and be miserable, than die and be free?"

Fuli didn't have an answer.

"Look, I'm sorry. But this is the best."