The Lion Guard were walking through the dessert to find the next Moja Kwa Moja stone. They had just found the one that was a group of four stars in the night sky. On their journey, they had encountered some baddies too. Makucha the leopard, Chuluun the snow leopard, and Ora the Komodo dragon. Now they needed to find a Moja Kwa Moja stone with a dessert on it.  Fuli saw Kion walking ahead of her. He stopped and Fuli heard him whimper. He put his paw up to his scar briefly.

Fuli walked up to Kion. "Are you okay?" She asked him. He didn't reply. He started walking forward. All of a sudden she was nervous, she didn't know why, but she was. She walked over to Kion and blocked his way.

"You should rest, Kion," she told him.

"I'm fine Fuli!" Kion gave her a glare. He walked to the head of the group.

"Anga? Can you spot the next Moja Kwa Moja stone from the sky?" He asked the eagle.

"Yep," she replied. Anga then flew up into the sky. Fuli stared up after her. A few moments later Anga flew back down. "I see it! It's not too far from here," Anga told Kion and the Guard.

"Great," Kion replied. "Let's go."

XXXX

When they got there, they were all hot and exhausted. "There's the next Moja Kwa Moja stone." Anga told them while motioning with her wing to a Moja Kwa Moja stone nearby. Makini walked over to her and pressed her bakora staff against the stone. The painting of the dessert. disappeared and was replaced with a painting of the Tree of Life. Suddenly, Fuli heard a noise. It was a small cobra slithering close by them.

Fuli saw Kion stare at the cobra, his paws shaking. She could see his fur standing on end. Fuli could sense fear coming off him in waves. When the snake disappeared from view, Kion relaxed. Fuli could see why he was afraid. He received a very serious injury from one, and he would be scarred for life.

"Okay guys," Kion began. "Let's go." The group looked disappointed. Fuli could see why. They were tired and exhausted from the day, and this place would be the perfect place to rest and take a break.

"Kion, they could use a break. You could too." Fuli told him. She expected his answer to be arrogant, and she was right.

"No!" He snapped. "We keep going." The Guard sighed. I tried my best. They all reluctantly followed Kion out of the clearing.

Then, the Guard heard a noise, it was a little fawn that appeared from the forest. "Help!" It cried. At the sight of Kion, Anga, and Fuli, three predators, it began to run. "Wait!" Bunga called. "They won't hurt you!" The fawn turned back.

"A-are you sure?"

"Positive!"

"O-okay. I-I'm lost," the fawn told them. Fuli saw Kion roll his eyes. "We don't have time for this," she heard him mutter under his breath.

XXXX
The Lion Guard walked on. They had found the fawn's parents with the help of Anga. They then needed to help a coyote who's den collapsed. They also saved an eagle's chicks when they were in danger of heat stroke when they were lost in the dessert, they helped the chicks find their way home. The entire time Kion acted as if the animals they had helped were a nuisance or an obstacle on their way to the Tree of Life. The Guard were all tired. It had started to rain. It just had to rain right now, didn't it? I mean come on! In the middle of the dessert too! "Ugh!" Fuli complained.

"C'mon Fuli! Water isn't so bad," Bunga said. He then splashed in a puddle, soaking Fuli. "Ugh! Seriously?!" She then shook her fur off, purposely on Bunga. He laughed. Fuli was annoyed.

"Come on Bunga and Fuli! We don't have time for games!" Kion growled. Fuli was partially startled by Kion's sudden outburst. They continued walking without a word. Fuli thought back to when Nala told her that she wasn't his mother. She began to quietly sing to ease her mind.

Truth
Such a confusing thing
The secrets I bring
On this journey
Have plagued me

When a cub
A newborn cub
Was taken from his mother
He was raised alongside another
Thinking he was her brother

And he looked up at a couple
Thinking they were his father and mother

As he grew
Everything changed
He carried the guilt
Of summoning Scar from the flames

We all grew older
We tried to defend
We would protect our home
Till the Pride Lands end

Then came the final battle
In the end we won
But this cub was injured
And our journey begun

We heard a legend
A legend of a place
Animals from near and far
There they would be safe
This place was known for healing
There he would go
Then I was told a secret
A secret only one animal knows

A dark secret
A secret of the truth

A dark secret
That no one knew

To tell him would break his heart
But to keep it would tear me apart
In guilt (in guilt)
Because of the friendship we built (we built)

This dark secret
I can't keep it
Her dark secret
She tried to keep it

A dark secret

Fuli didn't realize how much time had passed until she looked behind her and saw they had left the forest and the lake far behind. She looked ahead and saw the rest of the Lion Guard walking ahead of her. She saw Makini trying to talk to Kion, but couldn't figure out what they were saying from where she was. She trotted up closer to them.

"Kion I really think you should have some Tuliza." Fuli heard Makini say.

"Forget it Makini! I. Don't. Need. Tuliza!" Kion then growled at Makini. He then slapped the Tuliza out of her hand. Makini flinched and took a few steps back. Fuli got in between them.

"Kion! You're out of control!" Fuli shouted. When he turned around to face her, she was horrified. His scar was bleeding. Lightning flashed and, under the lightning for a split second, Fuli could have sworn his eyes looked green. Kion growled at her.

"If you're going to try to tell me to listen to you both, then forget it! You're slowing me down!" Kion snarled.

"We aren't slowing you down Kion! We're just trying to help you!" Fuli shouted back.

"Kion, this is one of those times when I should take over."

"Take over?!"

"Just until you feel better!"

I'm the leader of the Lion Guard, Fuli. And I'm warning you," he growled. He then got into a fight position. Fuli was alarmed. He wasn't actually going to do this, was he?

"Don't make me do this Kion," she growled then got down into a fight position, just like Kion. Kion then pounced, claws unsheathed. Fuli being the Fastest, dodged him. She couldn't believe this was happening. They were friends ever since she could remember. She remembered when he assembled her as the Fastest on the Lion Guard, when he and the Guard saved her from Mizingo and the vultures, when they defeated Scar together...

He wouldn't really hurt me, would he?!

Fuli dodged Kion multiple times before he finally got in reaching distance of clawing her. He raked his claws across her side, then froze. Fuli's eyes widened in shock.

"Did you just do that?!" She hissed. "Did you just hit me, Kion?!"

A quiet gasp was audible from him as he looked down at his paws. A long silence followed.

"Kion," she growled. "It's clear you need time to get your thoughts straight. Me and the Guard will be at the higher ground by the tall rocks." She narrowed her eyes. Then she and the rest of the Guard walked away.

Once Kion was out of sight, Beshte finally spoke. "What about Ono? Are we still going to the Tree of Life?"

"Of course we're still going,  we just should... give Kion some time to himself for a day," Fuli said. "But Fuli," Ono protested. "He wouldn't be able to make it on his own for even one day because of his scar.." Fuli didn't reply, she couldn't find the words. She secretly knew Kion wouldn't survive on his own for even one day in his current condition.

XXXX

Kion half walked, half stumbled through the dessert, currently raining. His scar gave him a great deal of pain. I made my choice, he thought regretfully. Kion tried to forget about it. What's done is done. Now he was on his own. He felt empty and cold. He remembered when Fuli sang him to sleep when he had a nightmare of turning evil. He felt warm and safe then. Now he felt cold and vulnerable. He remembered all that happened in the journey. He remembered when he was about to hurt Fuli. On purpose... He remembered all throughout the journey he thought other animals were a nuisance and a distraction. He remembered not being able to think clearly. I've lost myself... forever.

(Kion)

I made my choice

And now our bond... our friendship is all gone

I heard their voices, yet I chose to ignore

With them is where I belonged

When I got scarred

Part of me was lost

Winning that other battle

Came at a cost

And now I'm on my own

I was destined for this fate

If only I had known

That my future wasn't too great

I would enjoy the life I had more

But now I don't have anything to live for

I wish that I could turn back time

And do it all again

So I

Could try to fix my life

It'll all end soon

I don't have much time

I just wish that

We had gotten to say goodbye

Now they all probably hate me

Now I'm alone

I have nothing now

And I'm far, far from home

I'm broken

I'm a bunch of scattered pieces

That you can't put back

Together

And forever

I am scarred

And I'm far

From who I used to be

I miss the days when I would play

Worry-free out in the sun

Back then was so different from today

But I miss having fun

I'm broken

The old me is forever lost

I'm broken

My old spirit is gone

I'm broken

Even though I may see them again

It won't be the same

'Cause of all this pain

I can't be their friend again

And I miss who I used to be

I wish, just for one moment

I could once more

Be me

Kion finished singing with tears in his eyes. Kion knew his time would come soon, as his wounds wouldn't stop bleeding, even with the rain to help wash the blood away. It was just too much. His body couldn't take it anymore. The pain he felt was unbearable, especially with his scar giving him more pain than he's ever felt in it before. He wasn't looking where he was going and stumbled into a deep ravine. The fall hurt very much. Kion's body ached. Then, he heard a noise. It was familiar but he couldn't quite put his paw on it. Then it hit him. Flash flood!

He saw the flood coming fast towards him in the ravine. Kion tried to move, but he couldn't. The pain was just too much. He laid there, bracing himself for what would be the end...

 ***

Fuli heard the flash flood from the den she and the Lion Guard were taking shelter in. The den was on very high ground, so the flood likely would never reach them.

"Guys, I think after the flood is over we should go look for Kion. You guys all know that the flash flood is dangerous. He might even be in trouble!" The Lion Guard looked shocked. I can see why, Fuli thought to herself. He had just hurt her! How could she even be thinking about him right now?! 

"I know what you all are thinking, but it wasn't Kion that hurt me. It was someone else..." I could see it in his eyes... It was Scar...

 "Guys, I'll go look for him," she told them. The rest of the group looked hesitant but nodded in agreement. Fuli walked out of the den and sped over to where she heard the flood.

When she got there, she saw the giant flood. Huge waves thrashed through the ravine, stronger than Fuli had ever seen. Fuli thought she saw something in the water, but she couldn't tell what it was. She squinted to try and see it. She did, and she was shocked. It was Kion. He was clinging onto a buoyant log for dear life. Suddenly, his claws lost grip on the log and he went underwater. Fuli didn't know what to think or do. She could barely swim and could lose her own life trying to save him. But she couldn't just let Kion die. After all they had been through together, she had to help him. Fuli had made up her mind.

She ran along the side of the ravine, trying to spot Kion amongst all the crashing waves. Then for a split second Kion's head popped up out of the water, then went back down again. Without much thought, Fuli jumped in where he was. She tried to swim towards him, but the crashing waves kept her from doing that. She didn't know how in the name of the Great Kings and Queens that she could swim in a flood like this. Kion then came above water again, and Fuli knew he was surprised to see her. "Fuli!" He said through a cough. "What are you doing here?!"

Fuli didn't reply, there wasn't time for that. She then grabbed him by his scruff and tried to haul him away from the crashing waves. She didn't have much time, for there was a very big wave coming, one so big it could kill an animal if it hit it.

Fuli and Kion made it to land. Very muddy land, in danger of a landslide, especially with this flood. They had to get off soon. Fuli and Kion ran for it. They were almost at dry land when the ground beneath them started to collapse, Kion too. His scar was too painful to keep going, Fuli observed. Without much thought, she stayed behind and mustered up all her strength to grab Kion and throw him to the dry land just ahead of them. Fuli collapsed on the ground from exhaustion. The loose ground collapsed into the flood with Fuli on it. The giant wave was just about to hit as Fuli prepared for her end...

"NO!" She heard Kion scream just as the crashing waves brought her underneath the water.

XX
"NO!" Kion screamed as the raging waves pulled Fuli underneath the water. After an hour or so, the flood calmed. There were no longer crashing waves and the ravine wasn't filled with water, just a few large puddles here and there and a stream in the middle. Kion found a path down to the ravine and ran down it. "Fuli!" He called. There was no reply.

"Fuli!" He looked around the ravine, hoping to find her. "Fuli!" His voice echoed throughout the ravine. He then saw her laying down in a puddle. Kion was relieved. He rushed over to her.

"Fuli-" He cut himself off when he realized the puddle she was laying in was a pool of blood. Her body was motionless. 

"Fuli?" He nudged her. "Fuli, wake up." Kion pleaded. "C'mon, wake up. Please!  We have to go! We have to go to the Tree of Life. Fuli please wake up."

"Fuli? No! No this can't be happening!" Kion wailed. "Fuli, please wake up. Please." Kion pleaded, but he knew it was hopeless.

"Y-you promised you'd stay by my side forever! You have to wake up!" Kion said through tears while nudging her.

"Y-you can't be dead! You're just... sleeping..!" Kion sobbed. Fuli was dead. She died saving him. "No,"  he whispered silently. Tears ran down Kion's face. He never in his entire life imagined that Fuli would ever die.

"You died saving me, Fuli," he said quietly. "I'm so sorry."

Kion suddenly heard a low growl. It came from another cheetah. It gasped at the sight of Fuli's body.

"It killed her!" The cheetah exclaimed. Then more cheetahs appeared. "It killed her!" It exclaimed again then the cheetah started chasing Kion. Kion summoned up all his remaining strength and ran as fast as he could out of the ravine. Kion ran and ran and ran. He wasn't looking where he was going and he bumped into something. He then looked up and saw Beshte. The Guard was with him. They all looked surprised to see Kion.

"Kion?" He asked awkwardly. "What are you doing here? And have you seen Fuli?" The moment Beshte said that, more tears made their way down Kion's face.

"B-Beshte, guys... I don't know how to say this... but Fuli.... she... she's." Kion could barely finish. "Gone."

The Guard were shocked, Kion could tell. How could this happen? And why? Kion knew what they were thinking and he began to explain.

"I-I got caught in the...  f-flood and... F-Fuli jumped in to... s-save me... a-and she shoved me up to dry land just before the land we were on collapsed into the flood and... she fell in too... and when the flood calmed down I went down to the ravine and... and saw..." Kion couldn't finish as he burst into tears. The Guard couldn't believe it. Fuli was dead? How could this be?

"I-it's my fault. She died saving me," Kion said through tears. Kion was just about to leave when the Guard stopped him.

"Fuli would have wanted you to get healed," Beshte told him. "She was thinking about you after you two fought. She knows it wasn't you who hurt her." Kion was surprised.

"Indeed.." Ono said.

"Yep.." Anga agreed.

"Yeah.." replied Bunga.

"Yeah.." said Makini. All replies from the Guard were slightly hesitant.

Kion could see the hesitant looks on their faces. And he knew exactly why. I lost control.... I hurt my friend when she was just trying to help me... It's my fault she's dead. The flood should've killed me instead of her...!  He forced himself to make eye contact with the Guard. "Thanks guys... but I'm not sure if I even deserve to be healed now," Kion told them uncertainly. 

"Of course you deserved to be healed," Makini told him, thought hesitant, had some confidence in her voice. "Like Fuli said; It wasn't you who hurt her. It was someone else."

"But she died saving me! It's my fault she's dead!" Kion told them, hot tears beginning to run down his face once more.

"It's not your fault," Beshte told him. "Everything was Fuli's choice. She chose to save you from the flood. And she chose to risk her life in doing so." Kion was still uncertain.

"Fuli did this because she cared about you," Beshte finished. Kion was grateful that Beshte was trying to make him feel better, but it wasn't working. Beshte was always the friendliest member on the Guard. What he's saying is probably just empty words to not make me feel bad about myself... But he knew that they might not leave without him, and Ono still needed to be healed too. "Ok, I'll go with you to the Tree of Life," he reluctantly agreed. Kion and the Guard walked on. He had a terrible, guilty feeling in his gut.

Fuli, I'm so sorry.