Jogina the Murderer

== Disclaimer ==
This is a story based off of the Lion Guard episode, Poa the Destroyer. This is my take on it, so please do not get the wrong ideas and accuse me of any plagiarism. It also features the song Hakuna Matata. Thank you and enjoy the story!
== Story ==
It was a wonderful sunny day at the Tree of Life. But, in the mountain pass, a human girl by the name of Ilyssa was seeking refuge with her family. "Guys, there's a large tree up ahead! We can get shelter there!" Ilyssa told her group. But, before they could reach it, the Night Pride came their way! "Ilyssa! Hide!" her mother instructed.
So, Ilyssa did what her mom said and hid behind a nearby rock. "Who are you?" shouted Mike, Ilyssa's father.
"We are the Night Pride! Unless you enter with peace, with strength and respect, Night Pride protect!" the pride chanted as they lunged into battle. After several minutes, every single member of Ilyssa's family was down and killed. Behind the nearby rock, Ilyssa was mortified to witness the slaughter of her family. Suddenly, Baliyo, one of the male lions, saw the little girl hiding and crying, so he, along with the rest of his pride, decided to check it out. "Hey, are you okay, miss?" the young lion asked, concerned.
Ilyssa shook her head with dejection. "I'm scared and alone. My family was just now killed, so now I have nothing to do, nowhere to go. I'm just miserable," she sobbed. Nirmala, the healer of the Tree of Life, nuzzled the little girl out of empathy. "Poor little girl. Come on, dear. Let's get you to my mother," offered Surak, the biggest male of his pride. Once Ilyssa and the Night Pride reached the Tree of Life, they were greeted by the Lion Guard, who was also staying there as well.
"Hello, Night Pride. Do you have another animal to take to Queen Janna?" Kion curiously asked. "Actually, yes, we do," Rani sweetly replied. Together, the Night Pride and Lion Guard, along with Ilyssa, entered the Tree of Life. There, on the rock platform, lay the elderly Queen Janna. "Welcome, young one. I'm Janna, Queen of the Tree of Life," she introduced herself, "What brings you here?"
"My family was killed in the mountain pass. Your son and his friends saved my life. However, I know who killed my parents, but I won't say any names," Ilyssa lamented. "Oh. Well, you are safe now, little one," Janna comforted the young woman. "My Lion Guard and I can show you around if you'd like," Kion offered. "No, but thank you for offering me. I can find my own way around," she kindly declined. With that, Ilyssa set out to make herself at home.
While touring, she was approached by two shrews, a male and a female, who happened to notice her. "Say, we've never seen you around. What's your name?" asked the female. "Ilyssa. Who are you? the young woman answered. "Pleasant to meet you, Ilyssa. I'm Sasem and this is my mate, Tsah," Sasem introduced herself, pointing to the male shrew next to her. "I'm new here and I'm finding a place here to call home," Ilyssa explained.
Bidding the shrews farewell, she set out once again. This time, she ended up in the tundra region of the Tree of Life, where she encountered a polar bear. "Hey! Need some help, little lady?" he asked. "Hello. What's your name? I'm Ilyssa," she told him. "My name's Tangaagim. Pleasing to meet you, Ilyssa," the bear answered gently.
"You too. Bye, Tangaagim! See you soon!" she exclaimed to her new pal. After a bit more walking, she ended up in the penguins' territory. "Hello!" she called to them. The penguins then went to get a better look at this newcomer. Their leader, Pinguino, was instantly smitten by her red hair and sweet presence.
"Hello, my lady," he greeted as he took Ilyssa's hand and kissed it. Ilyssa just blushed and giggled nervously. "I can tell you're the dapper one in your bunch," she shyly giggled. "I can tell already, madamoiselle, that we are going to be the best of friends," Pinguino told her. "That I can definetly agree with. But, I have something to confess. It's very sad and it's the reason I'm here in the first place," she told him.
She then proceeded to tell the tragic tale of her parents' undoing. "They were killed by a ferocious beast called Jogina the Murderer," she explained. Just then, Rani and Kion showed up. "Hi, Ilyssa! How are things going here?" Rani asked her new friend. "Sorry, guys! Gotta run!" Ilyssa exclaimed as she dashed off.
"That's odd. She was just fine being around us before. Something's not right," Kion told his friend. He and Rani soon caught up with Ilyssa before she went off too far. "Ilyssa, what's going on here?" Rani asked, concerned.
Ilyssa hung her head in shame. "If something's bothering you, Ilyssa, you can tell us," Kion reassured the young woman. "You see, my parents were killed by someone called Jogina the Murderer," Ilyssa confessed as she ran away, sobbing. "Jogina, That sounds familiar," Kion told Rani. Both lions thought long and hard about Ilyssa's description and came to a horrifying realization!
"Kion, round up the Night Pride and Lion Guard! I'll meet you at the Tree of Life!" Rani exclaimed. At the Tree, they all began to discuss Surak. "Why is she afraid of me?" he questioned. "Ilyssa says that man and woman we attacked in the pass were her parents and they told her to hide," his niece explained, "She calls you Jogina the Murderer." A tear fell from Surak's eye when he realized what he did to the poor girl's parents.
"Honestly, Surak, I thought you were so much better than this, but I guess not!" Nirmala growled at her friend as she glared with contempt. She then ran off into the forest. "Don't worry, Uncle Surak. We will get Nirmala back and help you apologize to Ilyssa," Baliyo kindly assured his uncle. "I sure hope so, Baliyo. Otherwise, Nirmala, Ilyssa and I will be enemies forever," Surak sadly lamented. Elsewhere, Ilyssa was hiding from Jogina.
She then heard a rustling sound coming from the nearby bushes. When the figure emerged however, it was revealed to just be her friend, Baliyo. "Hey, Baliyo. What's up?" she nonchalantly asked. "Ilyssa, everyone needs you at the Tree of Life," he told her. "Oh, no! Is anything wrong?" Ilyssa questioned, concerned for her friend.
"I'll explain on the way," Baliyo replied. Ilyssa then followed him to the Tree of Life. "Thanks for coming, Ilyssa," Rani started, "It seems there's been a misunderstanding with one of our Night Pride members". "You may know him as Jogina..." Kion added, "...the Murderer?!" Ilyssa frightfully interrupted. "But his name's not really Jogina. It's Surak and he's really nice." Rani finished.
Ilyssa just stood there, confused. Then, Surak and Nirmala emerged from the nearby foliage. "Please, don't hurt me!" Ilyssa screamed as she flinched. However, Surak just gently nudged her cheek as a greeting. The two eventually turned it into a hug.
"Ilyssa, why don't we host the funeral for your parents here tonight? The Night Pride and I will attend," Surak offered. "Thank you, Surak," Ilyssa tearfully thanked him. The lion hugged her neck as she sobbed. Later that night at the Weeping Willows, Ilyssa's mom and dad were buried and the funeral began. "My mother and father were good people. But now that they have completed their journeys in the Circle of Life, they will be remembered fondly," Ilyssa announced.
As the pride and Lion Guard mourned, Ilyssa sadly began to sing. "Hakuna matata," she muttered. Bunga, the honey badger, stared at her in shock. "You know my uncles' song?" he asked. "Of course, little one. My mother taught me that song before she passed away," Ilyssa gently answered.
After a few minutes, the funeral was over. "Want to have a party to celebrate your arrival, Ilyssa?" Nirmala asked. "Of course! I love parties!" Ilyssa cheered. She decided that tomorrow morning, she would alert her friend, Pinguino, about the celebration. The next morning, she was ready to visit her penguin friends.
"Hello, Ilyssa! Sorry we missed your parents' funeral," Pinguino apologized. "That's okay! I know you didn't mean any disrespect," Ilyssa forgave him. "Guess what? The Night Pride and Lion Guard are throwing a party to celebrate my arrival! You wanna come as one of my guests of honor?" she added. Together, the two friends cheered until they couldn't anymore. "Great! Meet me at the Tree of Life at sunset," Ilyssa told Pinguino happily.
That sunset, the celebration was about to begin. "Thanks for coming, everybody! Today, we celebrate the arrival of our newest and first human girl, Ilyssa," announced Makini, the royal Mjuzi. Every animal cheered as the celebration began. The birds laid out a flower path for Ilyssa. Surak waited on the rock platform beside Makini.
Just then, Ilyssa showed up at the Tree of Life with Pinguino by her side. Everybody cheered as they made their way to the front. Ilyssa wore a fancy pink dress with a pretty ribbon in her hair. "I'm proud of you. That's why I would like to call you, my daughter," Surak told the young girl. Then, the two hugged, sealing their bond.
"Everyone! Thank you so much for coming to my celebration. Now, it's time for me to choose my guests of honor. The first, Pinguino; my best friend. He made me feel welcome here. And I cannot forget the lion that accepted me into his family as his daughter, Surak!" Ilyssa announced. Pinguino made his way to the rock where Surak and Ilyssa stood. After a brief embrace between Pinguino and Ilyssa, the party ended. That night, Ilyssa went to the Willows with her newly adoptive father to talk to the spirits of her real parents. "You were right, Mom and Dad. I really do feel safe here," she told them.
Ilyssa then embraced her "father" as they were absorbed by the glowing moonlight.
The End! Hope you all enjoyed!
Category:The Lion Guard Stories
Category:LionGuardFan01
Category:Episodes