The Lion Guard: Protecting A Niece

Author’s Note: This fanfic was updated on July 5th, 2023, eight years after publication.
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It was a beautiful day in the Pridelands.
Kion and his friends were doing a patrol in Hapuna Valley.
"How's Ameba, Fuli?" Kion asked.
"She's fine" Fuli said.
Kion glanced at Ono.
Ono nodded, and took to the sky.
He returned a moment later, noticeably looking panicked and concerned. As Fuli caught sight of his expression, she exchanged a concerned glance with Beshte, wondering what could’ve caused Ono’s demeanor to shift.
"Ono? What happened?" she inquired.
Uncertain, Ono glanced sideways at Kion, who was watching him concernedly.
Noticing his hesitation, Kion and Fuli exchanged a glance.
"Tell us, Ono." Kion urged.
"It’s Janja's Clan…They’re attacking Marigold!" Ono reported frantically.
As Ono's report registered, Kion's eyes widened in horror as the words sank in. He unsheathed his claws, feeling them clawing the earth underneath his paws. Kion closes his eyes, willing himself to remain calm and focused. He felt Fuli move closer, brushing her tail against his side reassuringly.
"Mari's not even supposed to leave Pride Rock by herself. Janja and his hyenas will ki-" Kion said, cutting himself off before he could finish his sentence, and glancing worriedly at Fuli, who was still standing beside him, an expression of panic and concern in her eyes.
"Wh-Where are they, Ono?" Fuli asked shakily.
"At the Meadow." Ono reported.
"Until the Pridelands' end!" Kion called.
"Lion Guard, defend!" Fuli, Beshte, Ono, and Bunga chorused as they followed Kion towards the Meadow.
Upon their arrival, Kion stopped suddenly in his tracks, the sudden motion causing Fuli to bump into him. 
"Can you see them, Ono?" Kion inquired.
"Yes! They're over there, by the Ndona River." Ono reported.
 
"Mari can't swim…" Kion said slowly.
"So, what're we waiting for? Let’s rescue her." Bunga said.
"Right. Fuli, I’m going to use the Roar to send Janja's Clan back to the Outlands." Kion said.
"I’ll make sure Mari's safe." Fuli replied.
As the Guard bounded forward, Kion focused his attention on Janja, who was cornering Marigold against the grassy bank of the river. He and Banzai were slowly closing in on her. As the Guard approached, Janja suddenly lunged forward, knocking Marigold off of the grassy bank and into the river.
"No!" Fuli shrieked, horrified, watching Marigold disappear beneath the surface of the water. Kion's heartbeat thundered in his chest as he watched the scene before him, horrified.
Without hesitation, Fuli and Beshte charged forward, knocking the hyenas out of their way as they leapt into the river. Ignoring her repulsion of water, Fuli swam frantically towards where Marigold was struggling to remain above the water. Fuli grasped Marigold's scruff, and pulled herself onto Beshte's back, wrapping herself around the shivering lion cub.
"Hyenas! Get out of the Pridelands and leave my niece alone!” Kion roared, his eyes blazing with rage as he lunged at Janja, knocking him backwards with a paw.
"Why should we? Simba's granddaughter is perfect bait." Janja cackled.
"She's actually the king and queen’s grandniece." Ono commented quietly. 
By this point, Fuli and Beshte had gotten out of the river, and were huddled in a patch of moss, Marigold pressed against Fuli's pelt as Fuli gently lapped at her drenched pelt.
“Ono, go make sure Mari can't see what I'm about to do. Make sure she doesn’t leave Fuli." Kion instructed.
Ono nodded, flying off quickly towards Fuli, Beshte, and Marigold. As he spoke quietly to Fuli, the cheetah cub shifted so she was shielding Kion from Marigold's line of sight, pressing herself closer to her. 
Kion's eyes blazed with undisguised rage as he observed the hyenas.
"If you ever come near my niece again…" he snarled. 
He unsheathed his claws, and sank them into the earth underneath him.
"What're you gonna do?" Janja cackled.
Kion braced himself, and performed the Roar.
It sent Janja's Clan toppling backwards.
Kion watched them stumble towards the border, before rushing towards Marigold, Bunga following him.
As Kion reached them, he slowed his pace, approaching Marigold carefully, and crouching down to her eye level. Fuli gently traced her tail along Marigold's flank, her eyes reflecting the relief and fear Kion felt in his heart.
"Are you okay, Mari?" Kion asked softly, bending down to nuzzle her cheek affectionately.
"I-I'm fine." Marigold said shakily.
"Okay, I’m only going to ask you this once, and I need you to be honest with me. Did anyone know that you left the den by yourself? Why did you come all the way here?" Kion inquired gently.
Marigold glanced uncertainly around at the rest of the Guard, who were watching her concernedly. 
"It’s okay, darling." Fuli said reassuringly.
"You aren't in trouble." Beshte added.
"I wanted to see Sunningrocks." Marigold admitted.
"Who gave you permission to leave Pride Rock alone? Who's supposed to be watching you today?" Kion prompted.
"Aunt Maya said it would be okay." Marigold replied.
Kion and Fuli exchanged a glance.
"You don't think.." Fuli said quietly.
"I don't know." Kion replied.
"Maya wouldn't do that." Beshte said.
"If you knew her like I did, you wouldn't say that." Kion said quietly.
Fuli glanced down at Marigold, who was still shivering and had started to cough.
"Let's go back to Pride Rock." she said.
Kion nodded, and bent down to grasp Mari's scruff.
They bade goobye to to their friends, and headed towards Pride Rock.
When they arrived, Vitani rushed to greet them.
"I was so worried. Where was she?" she said anxiously.
Kion passed Mari to Fuli.
"She was at the Meadow. Janja and his clan attacked her, but she's fine." Kion said soothingly.
Vitani's eyes widened in horror and shock, before she glanced at Marigold, sighing with relief.
"Would you like me to take Mari inside? I can give her some fresh-kill and make sure she gets warmer." Fuli offered.
“Yes, thank you, Fuli." Vitani said gratefully.
She watched as Fuli headed into the den, still holding Marigold by her scruff.
Once they were out of sight, Vitani turned to Kion, her eyes reflecting the true horror and anxiety she felt.
"We just got back from the hunt. I thought you and the Guard must've come back earlier and took her somewhere. Nobody was in the den when I checked it. Who let her leave by herself?” Vitani asked frantically.
"She said it was Maya." Kion responded.
Vitani snarled, unsheathing her claws and flexing them anxiously.
"It's okay, Tani. She's safe now, Rafiki can check on her and make sure she doesn’t have Whitecough." Kion said reassuringly.
"Wh-Why would she have Whitecough? All you said was that Janja attacked her…” Vitani said slowly.
"She fell into the Ndona River too, but Fuli and Beshte saved her." Kion explained gently.
Vitani reached out a paw, pulling Kion closer to her, and rasping her tongue over his ear.
"T-Thank you, Kion." Vitani said shakily.
"Of course, Tani." Kion responded.
Category:Fanfiction
Category:Ginnyharry4ever
Category:Ginny's Fanfics
Category:The Lion Guard Stories