Fuli turned to face Kion and shifted closer to him. "I'm sorry for snapping. It's just... it's a lot to handle."

Kion nodded in understanding, pressing a paw to his stomach that was wrapped up with leaves and vines. "I know. I remember everything that happened. If there's any way..." He then looked nervous and fidgeted with his paws. "Um..."

Fuli caught on. "I know, you forgot your thought."

Kion nodded. "Sorry..."

"No, no, it's fine," Fuli tried to reassure him. "It isn't your fault."

"Yes it is!" Kion protested. "If I hadn't... UGH!" He looked frustrated. "Stupid stupid brain," he growled under his breath. "Why won't it... um... ugh!?"

"Well... the fall from the cliff," Fuli began.

"Ugh, this is my fault! It's all my... um..."

"Kion, maybe you should rest. It might help your brain work a bit better."

"Yeah, okay." Kion laid his head down and yelped. "My stomach hurts. A lot."

"Looks like the pain relieving herbs are wearing off," Nirmala commented.

"Oh no..." Fuli looked at Nirmala, feeling pain in her leg as she turned her head. "You think it'll go away?"

"Hopefully. We can only wait."

Seconds turned to minutes, Kion's pain only got worse. He scrunched his eyes shut and whined.

"Hello? What's going on?" A voice sounded from behind them.

"Guys, you're awake!" Fuli sighed in relief. It was the rest of the Lion Guard and the Night Pride beginning to wake.

"Sure am!" Bunga said, trying to jump to his feet but failing. "What'd I miss?"

"AGHHHHHHHH!" Kion's ear splitting scream rang through Fuli's ears, alarming the Guard and Night Pride. The cheetah turned back to face the lion and gasped. His stomach was bleeding out onto the ground.

"It's okay... it's okay.... I'm here... I'm here..." Fuli grabbed Kion's paw and he squeezed it tight. She hardly paid attention to the throbbing pain in her own leg. "Help him!"

"What's going on?! What happened?!" The Lion Guard and Night Pride asked fearfully, somehow in union. 

"A lot," Fuli replied quickly. "We-"

"AGHH." Kion gritted his teeth. He held Fuli's paw tighter.

"Is there any way we can help?!" Makini asked urgently.

"Yes. Go find some yarrow. It's in the fields near the Tree!" Nirmala shouted.

"On it!" Makini ran out, Anga following. They sure have regained their strength fast.

The rest of the Lion Guard rushed over to Kion, murmuring words of comfort to him. "It's okay Kion." "Don't worry... it'll all be okay." "Just hang in there."

Fuli's leg throbbed. She ignored it. The cheetah put her head over Kion's neck. She touched her nose to his forehead in a comforting manner. Suddenly, it began to glow.

What..?

She heard whispers in her ear; "Heal... heal now... use the powers... let this young one heal..."

It sounded like... Queen Janna? She looked back, but the elderly queen was still passed out.

"What?" She quietly questioned out loud.

"Use the powers... Touch your muzzle to his head like you have done before. Tell him all will be alright, for you will heal him."

What?! That doesn't make sense... How can I heal him? Oh right... the powers that I used to feel what he was feeling! Can they be used for healing too?... I should give it a shot. If I don't... I could lose him. She decided she'd give it a shot. She had everything to lose at this moment. Her friend... her love...

She touched her muzzle to his forehead. "It'll all be okay. I will help you." Words hit her mind. Without even thinking about it, she said them; "Ponya, rafiki yangu. Mimi nitakusaidia. Kwa nguvu zangu, nitakusaidia kuwa mzima tena. Natoa wito kwa nguvu zangu kuponya kupunguzwa kwa mwili wako, kuondoa maumivu yako yasiyoweza kusumbuliwa."

Suddenly, a bright yellow glow emitted from Kion's stomach. He stood up in shock and Fuli couldn't believe what she saw.

There was no bleeding. It was... somewhat healed, though a lesser visible cut still remained.

"Poa," Beshte breathed.

"Hapana," Ono gasped.

"Zuka Zama." Bunga's jaw dropped. "Fuli, how'd you do that?"

"I-I don't know." Fuli herself was still astounded by what she'd done. She began to feel slightly dizzy.

"Fuli?" Kion breathed in astoundment. "How did you do that? That was... amazing." He limped up to her and gave her a heartfelt nuzzle. "Thank you."

Fuli, still amazed, just returned the nuzzle. Her mind still spun. "Of course."

"I... I don't know what to say." Kion's eyes sparked with gratitude. His eyes widened. "Oh, oh! You can heal your leg with that, right?"

"I-I'm not sure," Fuli replied, shaking from the dizziness. "But I can try."

"NO!" A voice screamed in her head. Janna's voice. "It is extremely dangerous for one to do that, to use the power for themselves. It can shock them very much and hurt rather then help. It can kill."

"I- I can't," Fuli quickly stumbled out.

"Why not?" Curiosity glowed in Kion's eyes.

"The power... can kill if one uses it on themselves," Fuli told him, still unsure of her answer. The Lion Guard all murmured uncertainty and disappointment that their friend couldn't heal herself.

"Oh..." Kion nodded with understanding, though she knew he was confused as well. "Well, I'll help you! I'll take care of you!" He looked away for a moment, his ears slightly down. Fuli could've sworn she saw him... blushing? "Just like you took care of me." His voice was heartfelt. A bit of regret showed through however. Regret for trying to kill himself, for almost abandoning Fuli... his best friend... and maybe more...

Fuli smiled, knowing that he meant it. "Thank you." She nuzzled him, letting out a purr. She then felt guilty.

The secret. The secret that no one knew.

"Aww," Beshte cooed, interrupting her thoughts. A wide smile was on his face. "That's nice."

"Yeah." Bunga then turned to Kion. He smirked and suppressed a chuckle. "Ki, are you blushing?"

"No!" Kion blurted out a little too quickly. Fuli could see a bashful smile tugging at the corners of his jaws.

Bunga chuckled. "Yeahhhhhh sure. Is it because of her?" He teased, pointing at Fuli. The rest of the Lion Guard, despite the situation, chuckled. Surak and Rani only rolled their eyes, though Baliyo joined in. When Kion only looked away shyly and twitched his ears in a nervous manner, Bunga burst into a fit of laughter. "Kion and Fuli sitting in a tree! K-"

"Shut. Up. Bunga." The threatening tone in Fuli's voice itself was enough to silence him, even though he knew she could not walk and even if she could, she was too dizzy to attempt it.

"But still," the badger weakly protested after backing away from Fuli. "I think he might in some way..." He smirked at Kion.

Kion looked embarrassed. He started to back away clumsily. "Oh.. um... I... uh.. well...." He wasn't looking where he was going and bumped into something.

No, not something. Someone.

"Kion?!" Nirmala's jaw dropped, looking at the young lion. "How are you...?"

"We thought you were gonna-" Makini quickly slapped her hand over Anga's beak.

"I know. It was Fuli... She said something and there was this glow and she healed me. It was amazing." His ears twitched bashfully. "She was amazing."

"I see." Nirmala walked over to Fuli. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Uh-" Fuli paused because of the dizziness, "okay?" The cheetah knew that whatever Nirmala was going to talk to her about was serious. She was the healer of the Tree of Life for the Bright Stars' sake! Fuli was willing to bet she knew about those powers.

Nirmala gently eased Fuli onto her back and carried her out of the Tree. When they got out, Nirmala gently placed Fuli on the ground.

"You see, your powers come from the same thing that Jua's did."

"What?" Fuli gasped, her mind spinning with confusion and dizziness. "But I thought you said..-"

"Yes, it was inherited. But it originally had to come from somewhere. That somewhere is the Tree of Life. All lions come from here. All life originally came from here."

"It did?"

"Yes. It is called the Tree of Life after all. Because all life came from this tree. The Power of the Spirits came from here."

"It did?"

"Yes. Now that you have it, you must learn how to use and control it. First of all, do not use it on Kion. Ever again."

"What? Why?" Fuli asked, confusion spinning in her brain.

"The Power of the Spirits strongly counters the Roar of the Elders and is dangerous when the two forces touch. As long as he has it, it's dangerous for you to heal him. There was a very high risk of you injuring him or even killing him when you healed him. You got lucky. Just don't ever do it again."

Fuli nodded, cheeks heating up with shame and embarrassment. I could have killed him, she thought shamefully.

"I'm sorry. I was just trying to help." Fuli sighed and looked down at her paws.

"I know. I'm just warning you."

"Now what else do I need to know?"

**

Kion followed Fuli and Nirmala out of the Tree of Life, keeping about ten pawsteps behind them and crouching low to the ground so they wouldn't see him. In normal circumstances they would have seen him, but Nirmala and Fuli seemed to pay almost no mind to their surroundings. He had a feeling deep down in his gut that he should listen to what Nirmala was going to say, though he didn't know why.

Nirmala set Fuli down on the ground and began to speak; "You see, your powers come from the same thing that Jua's did."

What?! Kion's mind screamed. How?

"What?" Fuli gasped, her mind spinning with confusion and dizziness. "But I thought you said..-"

"Yes, it was inherited. But it originally had to come from somewhere. That somewhere is the Tree of Life. All lions come from here. All life originally came from here."

Woah, cool.

"It did?"

"Yes. It is called the Tree of Life after all. Because all life came from this tree. The Power of the Spirits came from here."

It did?!

"It did?"

"Yes. Now that you have it, you must learn how to use and control it. First of all, do not use it on Kion. Ever again."

Huh? Why not? She used it on me just now and it was perfectly fine.

"What? Why?" Fuli asked. She appeared confused.

"The Power of the Spirits strongly counters the Roar of the Elders and is dangerous when the two forces touch. As long as he has it, it's dangerous for you to heal him. There was a very high risk of you injuring him or even killing him when you healed him. You got lucky. Just don't ever do it again."

Fuli nodded. She looked shameful. "I'm sorry. I was just trying to help." The cheetah sighed and looked down at her paws. 

I know you were trying to help! Why is Nirmala shaming her?

"I know. I'm just warning you. Don't ever do it again."

Fuli nodded, an aura of shame spreading around her. "Now what else do I need to know?"

Instead of responding, Nirmala picked Fuli up and walked back towards the Tree. Kion had no time to find a different hiding place and Nirmala gasped when she saw him eavesdropping.

"Kion?! What are you doing here?!"

"Um... I... uh.." Kion stuttered as he tried to find an explanation.

Nirmala let out a growl. "Out of our way. We don't need this here." She roughly shoved him aside as she walked by and he collapsed on the dirt.

"What was that for?!" He asked, confused more than angry.

Nirmala's eyes flickered with an emotion he could not read. She sighed and dug her claws into the ground. Fuli's eyes widened in alarm. "What are you doing?!"

Nirmala flinched, sighed, and continued walking into the Tree of Life. Fuli looked back at Kion, a confused expression on her face.

Kion followed them into the Tree of Life where the rest of the Lion Guard were waiting patiently.

"Got caught?" Bunga implied. Kion nodded. Bunga looked at his shoulder and stared at it. Kion was confused, but then he looked down and noticed it had a small scrape from Nirmala shoving him. "You okay buddy?" Bunga asked.

"I'm fine," Kion assured him with a smile. "Just a little fall. I'm alright."

Bunga stared at him and put his paws on his hips, making Kion begin to get nervous. "Are you suuuurrrreeee?"

"Y-yeah."

"Okay!" Bunga smiled and threw his hands up in the air like nothing happened. The rest of the Guard looked at Kion with a concerned look but didn't say anything.

"Fuli, lay down," Nirmala instructed. "It's almost nighttime. You should rest with that leg or yours." 

Fuli flinched and nodded. Kion was about to walk over to her, but Nirmala glared at him.

"Go back to your own sleeping spot," she hissed quietly so Fuli couldn't hear. "She doesn't need you here." Kion opened his mouth to protest, but shut it when Nirmala glared at him.

"Don't talk to him like that," Fuli hissed back. Nirmala's eyes widened in realization when she realized Fuli heard.

Bunga got up and made a punching pose with his fists. He opened his mouth to say something in Kion's defense but Makini slapped her hand over his mouth before he could do or say anything. "Now is not the time," Makini said and the others nodded their heads.

"Look, I'm sorry," Nirmala sighed. "Just go."

Kion ignored her 'apology' and went back to his sleeping spot. It felt cold. Nevertheless, Kion curled up in it and shut his eyes.

**

"Ahhh...! That hurts...! Please... stop Jua... you've done this s-so m-much..." Kion cried, pain rupturing through him. Jua slid her claws down his back, all bloodied and soaked in a certain red liquid.

"Nah, it's so much fun to see you cry. Unless... you like to see her cry."

"Ugh, just stop it already Jua!" Fuli growled.

"As if you could do anything about it." Jua smirked.

"Fuli... I'm sorry..." Kion whimpered painfully. "I failed you."

"You did!" Fuli snapped. "And now we're all in trouble! Because of you!"

"Fuli... I'm sorry. I'm really really sorry." He failed her. He failed his friends, family, his father's kingdom. He failed. Failed everyone.

"'Sorry' doesn't change anything, fur-brain. I thought you learned that by now," Fuli snarled. She hobbled closer to Jua. "Can I finish him off?" She asked.

"Be my guest." Jua motioned with her paw to the trembling Kion.

"F-Fuli...?"

"Say goodbye, you pathetic scavenger. RAH!"

"AGHH!"

**

Kion's head shot up with cold sweat, panting heavily. "J-Jua... please... Fuli please... don't..." He pleaded. Any moment now she'd attack him, hurt him. And he could do nothing about it. He was powerless. He wanted to die right then and there. 

His breathing began to slow a bit and he became more aware of his surroundings. Oh, it was just another dumb dream... What was I thinking? Fuli would never hurt me, right?

He would keep having these dreams. He could do nothing about it. He just wanted to die. As soon as that thought came, however, he quickly pushed that thought out of his mind. I have to stay here. I have to. For Fuli.

He spotted the cheetah's sleeping form. He saw she was shaking in her sleep. He got up and painfully hobbled over to her. He could hear her mumbling in her sleep; "No... no... I have to run... you can't replace me... what? No!..."

Fuli's head shot up and she panted. Tears were visible. "D-don't replace me." She buried her head in her paws. "I have to be the Fastest... I have to...!"

"Fuli?" He asked softly, knowing she wasn't quite aware of his presence yet.

"Kion!" She gasped in shock, then quickly tried to hide her tears by quickly wiping them away with her paw. "I-I'm fine... don't worry..."

Kion didn't buy it. "No you're not fine. I saw you crying. What's wrong?"

"N-nothing Kion. You don't need to worry," Fuli quickly tried to assure him. 

"You can tell me what's wrong." Kion flashed her a soft smile and laid down next to her, easing himself into a comfortable position. He gently rested the tip of his tail on her back as a gesture of comfort.

"You already have enough to worry about." Fuli looked down, ears drooping.

"C'mon, just tell me. I can help."

"No you can't."

"Hm, this seems familiar," Kion remarked. He looked at Fuli, giving her time to think about what he just said.

"Oh..." Fuli trailed off awkwardly, obviously remembering this happen before except the roles were switched. She sighed. "Okay... I'm sad."

"Sad why?" Kion gently pressed.

"Because.. my crippled leg." Fuli blinked back tears at the words. "I won't ever be able to run... ever." She sniffled. "And you'll... you'll replace me on the Lion Guard because of it. I won't be the Fastest of the Pride Lands anymore." Her voice broke when she said that. It made Kion's heart break in two. She was so sorrowful because she didn't get to do the thing she loved ever again. And she thought her friend would strip her of her last piece of happiness because of that.

"I would never replace you," Kion tried to reassure her, his voice cracking. "You'll always be the Fastest to me. Now and forever."

Fuli looked up. "R-really?"

"Really," Kion reassured her. "Crippled leg or not, you'll always be the Fastest. And I'll be here to help you. But I know this; You will get to run again and I'll make sure of that even if it's the last thing I do."

"Wh-what?" Fuli asked. "How are you going to do that?"

"Remember how you helped me back in the Pride Lands? You know, when I got injured while trying to hunt and everyone believed I wouldn't walk again?"

"Yeah," Fuli said, uncertainty lingering in her voice.

"I don't see why it wouldn't work for you. It's worth a shot, isn't it?"

Fuli hesitated for a moment before sighing and looking down. However when she looked back up there was a sincere smile on her face. "I guess it's worth a try," she agreed.

"Great." Kion let out a relived sigh that she agreed. "We'll start tomorrow."

Fuli nodded in agreement and laid down. Kion began to walk back to his sleeping spot and a shiver ran down his spine at the thought of going back to sleep. He was stopped when Fuli tapped him on the back with he tip of her tail. "You know, you can stay here with me if you want."

"Really?" He asked a little too eagerly.

"Yeah. I'd feel safer with you nearby." She chuckled a little bit as she added; "I know you would too."

Kion smiled gratefully. He walked back and snuggled up beside her. "Goodnight."

"'Night."

Kion thought about how she had helped him when everyone thought he was hopeless. Now he was determined to do the same for her.

"Kion, I know you can do it."

"F-Fuli... what if slip? What if I get stuck under the water? What if-?

"You won't slip. If you do, I'll catch you. Just try and walk. The water will be easier on you. Trust me."

"Um... okay.. if you say so... woah! Ahh! 

"Don't worry, I got you. Now keep steady."

"Okay... so far so good... woah... I... I think it's working! Woo hoo! I'm doing it! Look at me!"

"Good job Kion!"

Kion smiled. She had been supportive of him and he'd do all he could to be supportive of her. They both fell asleep quickly not long after. Fuli felt safe in Kion's embrace and Kion felt safe in hers. And that was how they stayed for the night ahead, providing each other with a sense of comfort and safety.