Kion/History

## *The Lion Guard*

### Return of the Roar

"*So what if we're not all lions? I know we're the Pride Lands' fiercest, bravest, fastest, strongest, and keenest of sight!*"
—Kion encouraging the Guard

Kion is chasing a baobab fruit with Bunga, interrupting Simba and Kiara's conversation, much to his sister's annoyance. Simba angrily stops Kion and Bunga, with Kiara mocking Kion for not having his life planned out. Simba suggests they play somewhere else, and Kion and Bunga agree. Bunga runs off with the baobab fruit and Kion follows him. Kion and Bunga continue to chase the baobab fruit around the Pride Lands, bumping into many of their friends.

The baobab then rolls into the Outlands, and Kion hesitates to enter the Outlands to retrieve it, however Bunga leaps in to get it. While Kion tries to get him out, Cheezi and Chungu capture Bunga. Kion demands that they let him go, releasing a powerful roar which stuns Cheezi and Chungu long enough for Bunga to escape. Kion and Bunga return to Pride Rock, where Simba greets them, ready to explain the Lion Guard to him. He and Rafiki bring Kion down to the Lair of the Lion Guard. Bunga claims that the lair could use some cleaning, and Rafiki agrees, using his staff to fix the place up. Simba and Rafiki tell the story of the Lion Guard, then sending Kion off to find members of the Guard.

Kion sets off but is stopped by Bunga, who begs him to join, listing everything he would do. Kion stops him and explains that he will ask Bunga to join, which confuses Bunga. After Kion explains, Bunga gets excited, but both of them hear a shout in the distance, and Kion realizes that it is Zuri. Bunga and Kion rush over to find Zuri stuck on a tree, right before Timon pries her off, sending her into a log, which breaks to reveal bugs in it. Bunga tells everyone that Kion is now the leader of the Lion Guard, and Kiara asks what that is. Kion explains, and Kiara teases him for choosing Bunga as a member. Timon and Pumbaa are hesitant about him joining, and Bunga teaches everyone *his* philosophy, *zuka zama*. Kion tells everyone that Bunga is the bravest, and Timon and Pumbaa change their mind and let him join.

Kion then asks Ono and Beshte to join him, and they try to find Fuli, who is being chased by baboons. Kion gets an idea to help Fuli, and they go through with it. Fuli apologizes to the baboons and Kion starts explaining the Lion Guard. Fuli asks Kion to show her the roar, but all that comes out is a squeak. Then, Zazu arrives with Simba and Kion begins to explain the roar to his father, but Simba stops him and tells him that the Guard has always been lions. Kion sadly walks off.

Kion sadly thinks about what Simba said. Mufasa appears in the clouds and talks to Kion. Kion explains the Roar to Mufasa and tells him that he doesn't want to become Scar. Mufasa reassures him that he won't. He tells Kion that the Roar will be there when he needs it. Kion realizes that he must lead the Guard, no matter what animals they are. Bunga approaches Kion and tells him that Janja and the hyenas are attacking. Ono notices that Mzingo is telling the hyenas where to go. Kion tells his friends that they must stop Janja's clan. The group is hesitant, but Kion encourages them. Kion goes to each mother and places his paw on their shoulder, causing the Mark of the Guard to appear, making them official members.

The Lion Guard runs to where the hyenas are attacking, with Ono attacking the vultures and Fuli surprising the hyenas. Kion instructs Beshte to attack, and the hyenas begin to retreat. Tiifu notices that the herd is charging to Kiara. Bunga tells Fuli to bring him to where Kiara is, and while Kion is hesitant, Bunga explains that he has a plan, and Kion allows him to go. After Kiara is safe, Kion brings the Lion Guard to confront the hyenas. Janja threatens Kion, but Kion roars at the hyenas which sends them flying back. Janja delivers Kion a warning before running off. Simba, Nala, and Rafiki, who are watching, agree that Kion is ready.

### Never Judge a Hyena by Its Spots

"*I know. But not all hyenas are like Janja. Some of them are good. She's one of them.*"
—Kion to the Lion Guard

Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu are chasing a herd of oryxes, but the Lion Guard arrives to stop them. Kion reminds Janja that they are not welcome in the Pride Lands. Janja remarks that "his stomach keeps forgetting," and Cheezi and Chungu laugh. Kion yells at the hyenas to leave, and they retreat. He chases them into the Outlands across a log, however the hyenas cross easily, the log snaps under Kion's weight and he falls into a river. Kion manages to get to safety in the Outlands.

Ono asks Kion if he's alright, which Kion replies that he is. Ono observes that he is in the Outlands, and Kion instructs the Guard to meet him at Flat Ridge Rock, which none of the Guard knows where that is, except Bunga, who begins to lead the way. Kion tells Ono to go with the Guard, and Ono does so. Kion walks through the Outlands, noticing some falling rocks. A hyena greets Kion, surprising him. The hyena refers to him as "Leader of the Lion Guard", and Kion asks how she knows him. The hyena explains that it's by reputation. Kion asks if she is in Janja's Clan, and she answers that she isn't, and asks why he is in the Outlands. Kion answers that he's headed to Flat Ridge Rock. The hyena introduces herself as Jasiri and tries to help Kion get there, but Kion refuses to listen.

Kion realizes that Jasiri is still following him, much to his annoyance. Jasiri remarks that he's still heading the wrong way, and Kion is determined to believe that he is going the right way, and Jasiri tells him that he couldn't get there on the trail he's following, because it ends. As she says that, Kion falls off a ledge and lands in a bush, and Jasiri jumps down with him. Jasiri begins to help him out, which surprises Kion and annoys Jasiri.

Kion sarcastically thanks Jasiri for helping him out, and Jasiri questions this. Kion angrily scolds Jasiri for letting him fall. Jasiri mocks Kion and tells him that she wanted to watch him fall. Kion asks Jasiri how to get to Flat Ridge Rock, and Jasiri tells him how, before realizing he's limping. Kion reassures Jasiri that he'll be fine, but Jasiri decides to stay with Kion.

A lizard eats an insect and Kion points it out as the circle of life. Jasiri realizes that Kion thinks she doesn't know about the circle of life. Kion responds that she is a hyena, and Jasiri answers that they are similar, saying the phrase *sisi ni sawa*. Kion refuses to believe that he is the same as her, but Jasiri manages to convince him that they are very similar. Jasiri realizes they are in Janja's territory, and points out the way to Flat Ridge Rock. While Kion is climbing over the border, he hears Janja attacking Jasiri.

Kion comes to Jasiri's aid, which surprises both Jasiri and Janja. The two continue to fight Janja's clan until they are cornered. Kion tells Jasiri to get behind him, and Jasiri reluctantly does so. Kion releases the Roar, chasing Janja's clan away. Jasiri laughs at them escaping, noting that they don't have that in common at all. The Lion Guard rushes in, prepared to fight Jasiri, but Kion stops them and explains how Jasiri is a good hyena.

Outside the Outlands, Bunga is glad to have Kion back. Jasiri bids Kion farewell before they part ways.

### The Rise of Makuu

"*Okay, Makuu. If you want a fight, the Lion Guard can bring it. Just be careful what you ask for.*"
—Kion warning Makuu

Kion and his friends are first seen racing to the rescue of an animal crying for help. However, when the five arrive at the scene, they find a little hyrax stuck in a thorn bush. Annoyed at the false alarm, the Guard proceeds to free the hyrax, who is soon swallowed by Ushari. Again, the Guard frees him, and he runs away in terror of Bunga's smell.

The friends travel to Big Springs, where Beshte shows off his home to his friends. While there, the friends overhear Makuu challenge his leader, Pua, to a mashindano. Kion is disturbed by this turn of events and asks his father about Makuu's challenge. Simba explains that he must recognize and respect the traditions of other species, even if he doesn't always agree with them.

Later, the animals of the Pride Lands gather to witness the mashindano, and Makuu manages to pull a victory over the aged Pua. As the crocodiles stride away, Kion looks after them worriedly, wondering if the Pride Lands are in danger. After Pua's defeat, the Lion Guard gathers in the Lair of the Lion Guard, but in the midst of the gathering, Kiara rushes up and warns Kion that the giraffes have moved into the baboon's forest. The Lion Guard rushes to the rescue, and Kion discovers that Makuu has invaded Big Springs, which has forced the other animals to switch habitats.

Kion confronts Makuu, asking him to leave Big Springs, but the crocodile refuses, mocking Kion for being unwilling to fight. Though Bunga encourages Kion to use the Roar of the Elders, the cub decides against it, not wanting to be like Scar and lash out in anger. Instead, Kion goes to Pua, asking for him to call for another mashindano, but Pua reminds Kion that Makuu is much stronger than him. He then advises Kion to back down if he's not willing to fight Makuu. The five return to Pride Rock, where Kiara reveals that there's been an invasion of baboons. Overwhelmed by all the problems, Kion moves off to think and encounters Mufasa, who advises him to stand his ground.

Inspired by the words of his grandfather, Kion and his friends decide to demonstrate the Roar of the Elders on a grove of trees to show Makuu what he would be in for if he should attempt a fight. While Bunga, Fuli, and Ono set out to clear the grove of animals, Beshte and Kion confront Makuu. When Ono gives the signal, Kion roars into the trees, clearing them all of their branches. In awe, Makuu backs down and leads his float out of Big Springs. After Makuu leaves, the animals return to their habitats, and Basi invites the crocodiles to return to Big Springs once the fish population spikes. The Lion Guard watches in satisfaction.

### Bunga the Wise

"*Bunga, you already help the Pride Lands. You're on the Lion Guard. You're the Pride Lands' bravest!*"
—Kion trying to convince Bunga to help the Guard

When Kion and his friends attempt to keep a family of baboons from falling with a loose tree off a cliff, the baboons refuse to see reason, and Kion sends Bunga up to scare them down. The plan works, and the baboons scurry down from the tree.

After the rescue, the Lion Guard takes a breather, and Kion goes to talk with his grandfather, Mufasa. The cub asks if he should use the Roar of the Elders to blow the big storms away, but Mufasa explains that rain is part of the Circle of Life and that the Pride Lands need water to survive.

Kion accepts his grandfather's words, but as he goes back to rejoin his friends, he sees a wall of floodwater racing across the plains. Thinking fast, the cub orders Ono to take a look, and Ono informs the Guard that Lake Kiziwa is flooding. Bunga proposes they knock a pile of large rocks into the way of the floodwater, and the flood is momentarily stopped.

As the other animals of the Pride Lands gather around, Rafiki approaches and starts to compliment honey badgers on their wisdom, but he is interrupted when he accidentally drops the fruit he's carrying. Bunga doesn't wait for Rafiki to finish and proclaims that he's the smartest animal in the Pride Lands. With everyone trailing behind him, he goes off to tell his adopted uncles, Timon and Pumbaa, just as Rafiki finishes what he had been saying, that honey badgers are only smart when they think before they speak.

As the Lion Guard races after Bunga, they encounter animal after animal who needs their help, and they continually rescue those affected by the floodwaters. Just before they can check on Ushari and the cobras, Ono flies in, proclaiming that they have to see what's going on at Hakuna Matata Falls.

When the Lion Guard arrives at Hakuna Matata Falls, they see animals lined up to meet Bunga, who has proclaimed himself to be a sage. Seeing the disaster for what it is, Kion attempts to talk Bunga out of his idiocy, but the honey badger refuses to rejoin the Lion Guard. Timon ushers the friends out of Bunga's lair, and the Lion Guard reluctantly leaves.

While walking the Pride Lands, the Lion Guard frees an ostrich with her head in the sand, and she explains that she'd been advised to do so by Bunga the Wise. After this, the friends encounter more and more animals taking Bunga's bad advice, and they're forced to rescue the poor beasts. Finally, Kion admits that they need to stop Bunga before it's too late.

Just then, they see Bunga at the head of a parade, celebrating his great wisdom. Kion runs up and once again attempts to make Bunga see reason, but the honey badger points out that everyone loves his advice. Timon adds that Bunga had fixed the dam, but just then, the dam breaks and the animals are forced to flee across the plains.

With Kion in the lead, the animals run into a canyon, where they find themselves at a dead end. Trapped, the animals look to Bunga for wisdom, but the honey badger tells them to listen to Kion, who truly does know how to handle bad situations. Thinking quickly, Kion orders the others to stand behind him, and he uses the Roar of the Elders to send the floodwaters splashing backward. With the Pride Lands saved, the Lion Guard relaxes at a new water hole created by the floodwaters, where Kion rests beside Fuli.

### Can't Wait to be Queen

"*Yeah, but it wasn't anything Kiara couldn't handle. I'm sure she's gonna be a great queen. Someday!*"
—Kion reassuring his family

When Kion attempts to use a tree that Kiara had found, Simba approaches and tells Kion to back away, for Kiara is going to serve as queen for the day. When Kion reacts with confusion, Simba gently explains that his presence is needed at a funeral in Kilio Valley for Aminifu, a wise old elephant who has passed away.

After his parents leave, Kion is ready to go on morning patrol with the Lion Guard, but instead of joining his team, Ono simply flies over them en route to Pride Rock. The Lion Guard rushes after their friend, but when they arrive at Pride Rock, Kiara is given a royal announcement by her friends, Tiifu and Zuri. A thoroughly annoyed Kion asks Kiara what's going on, and she explains that she is getting the morning report from Ono, since Zazu is off with the king and queen.

Ono then reports that a herd of elands are moving along the river and that several new hives of bees have appeared on the trail along the river. Kiara quickly connects the dots and realizes that the elands will run right into the hives, inciting chaos. She asks Kion to divert the herd rather than move the bees, and Kion reluctantly agrees.

With his team, Kion makes his way to the hives of bees, but instead of following Kiara's orders, he decides to move the bees rather than redirect the herd. His plan backfires, and the bees chase the Lion Guard straight into the path of the elands, who panic and run away in fear. A bruised, defeated, and stung Kion returns to Kiara and tries to make the best of his report, but Kiara accuses him of not having listened to her orders. He is then forced to admit that not all of the elands cooperated with them, and Kiara implores him to listen to her next time. Mzingo arrives and offers a proposal which Kiara agrees to.

When Kion hears about the proposal, he desperately tries to talk his sister out of it, but Kiara points out that Janja probably came to her because Kion is constantly running him off. Furious, Kion points out that she's not really the queen, but Kiara resolves to do things her own way. A frustrated Kion refuses to take part in her plan and runs off into the savanna.

As Kion storms away from his sister, he encounters Mufasa, who encourages him to support Kiara. He gently reminds the cub that Kiara needs his help, especially when she's wrong, and Kion realizes that he was wrong to have abandoned his sister. After thanking his grandfather, Kion races off to rejoin Kiara, but when he returns to Pride Rock, Tiifu and Zuri explain that Kiara has already gone off to meet with Janja. Gathering the Lion Guard, Kion sets out to stop her.

Having gotten a good head start, Kiara reaches Broken Rock, where Janja surrounds her with his cronies, but just in time, Kion arrives with the Lion Guard, and Janja flees. As the hyenas scurry away, Kiara admits that Kion had been right about Janja, and he reminds his sister that she had been right about the bees. With their argument settled, the siblings return home.

When Simba and Nala return home, Kiara asks how the tribute had gone, and Nala answers that everything had turned out fine. She then asks how ruling the Pride Lands had gone, and though Kiara begins to stumble over her words, Kion jumps in, proclaiming that Kiara is going to make a great queen someday.

### Eye of the Beholder

"*It doesn't matter. You flew here. And that gives me an idea. Ono, I'm gonna use the Roar to blast those rocks. Fly over to the zebras and get them to move away from the canyon.*"
—Kion instructing Ono

The Lion Guard finds themselves in the midst of a wildebeest stampede, unable to see through the thick dust. Kion calls to Ono, who can see from overhead, and he helps the team chase off Janja and his minions, who had started the stampede. However, as Ono watches the hyenas enter the Outlands, he gets sand in his eye and falls to the earth.

Acting quickly, the Lion Guard brings Ono to Rafiki, who constructs an eye patch for the egret and tells him to stay out of action for three days. Though Kion tries to reassure Ono that the Lion Guard can get by without him, Ono insists on proving himself and attempts to show off his keen sight to his friends. However, as he's flying over the Pride Lands, he bumps into Mwoga, a vulture, who observes the chaos of the Lion Guard down below and decides to report back to Mzingo.

Meanwhile, Rafiki is attempting to paint a picture of the Lion Guard, but it keeps turning out wrong. In the midst of the proceedings, Beshte rushes up to his friends and reports that Janja has been spotted on a ledge overlooking a herd of zebras in the Pride Lands. Horrified, Kion takes the Lion Guard to investigate, minus Ono, who stays behind with Rafiki.

As Kion leads the Lion Guard into a canyon, Janja and his minions drop rocks on either side of them, trapping them in the ravine. After gloating to Kion, Janja rushes off to pick off the zebra herd, and Kion and his friends attempt to escape the rock walls. Just in time, Ono appears, and Kion instructs him to move the zebras so that he can safely blast the rocks with the Roar of the Elders.

Ono does as instructed, and Kion breaks the Lion Guard free. With the Lion Guard now back in commission, Janja takes off with his minions, and the Lion Guard returns to Pride Rock, another mission safely sorted out. There, they are met by Rafiki, who has redone the painting so that Kion is among his friends, not just his teammates. Ono compliments the baboon's work, and Rafiki comments that such words mean a lot to him, as they come from the keenest of sight.

### The Kupatana Celebration

"*Maybe, but only if you can treat everyone in the Pride Lands with respect. Can you and your family do that?*"
—Kion allowing the jackals to attend Kupatana

When the Lion Guard expresses their excitement for Kupatana, Simba gently reminds them that Kupatana is a day of peace where all the animals in the Pride Lands gather together. In the midst of the conversation, the Lion Guard overhears a jackal pup being chased by Janja and his clan. Though Kion is hesitant to interfere with Outlands business, Simba encourages him to save the jackal for the sake of Kupatana.

With Kion in the lead, the Lion Guard enters the Outlands and fights off the hyenas. However, to Kion's surprise, instead of putting up a fight, Janja simply lets the Guard take the pup without a fight. Though confused, Kion checks on the jackal pup, who introduces himself as Dogo and asks if he can join the Lion Guard in returning to the Pride Lands. Again, Kion hesitates, but when Dogo proves too cute for the Lion Guard, he allows the pup to join them.

Once in the Pride Lands, the Lion Guard explains Kupatana to Dogo and invites him to join, despite Fuli and Ono's protests. They then grant him a hillside to use as his new home, and Kion leads the Lion Guard away on their daily patrol.

While on patrol, Beshte and Bunga spot Dogo's brothers making themselves at home in aardvark warrens. When the amount of jackals becomes too much for them, they call out for Kion, who races to the rescue. Once there, Kion attempts to find Dogo among the jackal pups, and Reirei steps forward, introducing herself and Goigoi as Dogo's parents. She then appeals to Kion to let them stay in the Pride Lands, for Dogo can't stay on his own, away from his family. A miffed Kion reluctantly agrees to her demands, but makes her promise to stop stealing the possessions of the aardvarks.

After dealing with Reirei, the Lion Guard races to the rescue of Mbeya, who has gotten stuck in a mud pit, but they are alerted to Reirei's schemes by the cries of several robbed animals. The Lion Guard hurries to the scene, and Kion lectures Reirei for stealing from other animals. Reirei puts on an extravagant display, claiming that the customs of the Pride Lands are so different from their own, and asks if her family can participate in Kupatana. A still dubious Kion allows them to join, but only if they treat the other Pride Landers with respect.

Later that day, the Kupatana celebration begins, and the animals witness the blooming of the baobab blossoms. However, in the midst of the proceedings, Reirei and her family break through the crowd of animals and begin their hunt. A confused Simba wonders at the plight, and Kion admits to letting them into the Pride Lands.

As the chaos continues down below, Kion and Simba implore the Pride Landers to work together in fighting off the jackals, and Kion jumps down to join the Lion Guard in wrangling up the jackal family. Together, they corner Reirei and her family in the midst of the tree grove, and Kion orders them to return to the Outlands. Still dripping with dramatic flair, Reirei pleads for a second chance until Simba steps forward and roars, frightening the jackals into running away.

With the jackals gone, Kion apologizes for his mistake, and Simba gently reminds him that it had been he who had encouraged the rescue of the jackal pup. He then points out that all the Pride Landers had stood together in fighting off the jackals, just as the spirit of Kupatana encourages. Bunga then begins to eat the fallen baobab blossoms, and many of the Pride Landers join in, welcoming back the joy and encouragement of Kupatana.

### Fuli's New Family

"*Yeah. She said she likes it. Guess we were being better friends when we just let Fuli be Fuli.*"
—Kion thinking about Fuli

When the Lion Guard is directing a herd of cape buffalo away from a mudslide, Bunga is flung on top of Ushari, an Egyptian cobra. Out of pure reflex, Ushari bites him, and the Lion Guard proceeds to panic over the venomous bite.

With Bunga on Beshte's back, the Lion Guard races to Rafiki, who proclaims that Bunga is immune to snake bites. Timon and Pumbaa are relieved and resolve to throw a feast in celebration of Bunga's immunity, but none of the other Lion Guard members can come, save Fuli, who has plans to hunt by herself. A horrified Timon and Pumbaa insist that she join them, but as they walk away, Beshte, Kion, and Ono wonder if they should involve Fuli more in their activities.

Later, Bunga is bragging about his immunity to Kion, who remains unconvinced. While they're talking, Kion spots Fuli hunting by herself, and he calls out to her, inviting her to join his family on a hunt. Fuli accepts his offer, but when she arrives at the hunt, she's uninterested in hunting alongside Tiifu and Zuri, Kiara's air-headed friends. Despite this, she sidles up beside Kiara and sneaks up on a gazelle. However, at the last minute, Nala calls for a halt, and Kion explains that Kiara is simply learning how to track, not kill.

After Fuli runs away from him in a fury, Beshte, Kion, and Ono meet up and relate their experiences with trying to include Fuli in their family activities. After relating their stories to each other, they realize that Fuli may just want to be left alone, and they resolve to find her and promise to let her be herself from now on.

Meanwhile, Bunga and Fuli have been cornered by Janja and his hyenas at the volcano. Just in time, the rest of the Lion Guard shows up and helps their friends escape. Once safely back in the Pride Lands, the Lion Guard resolves to cool off at the water hole, and Kion gently reminds Fuli that she doesn't have to come. Fuli thanks Kion for understanding, but reassures him that she still enjoys the company of her friends and that she thinks of them as her family. The five friends then join in a group hug.

### The Search for Utamu

"*Mzingo! When you and your vultures take on one member of the Guard, you take on us all!*"
—Kion to Mzingo

When the Lion Guard is checking on a herd of cape buffalo, they realize that the herd has settled near a geyser. When the geyser explodes, the herd takes off in a panic, but they are brought to a halt by Fuli, who circles them until they calm down.

The rest of the Lion Guard arrives, impressed, but no sooner have they abated the danger when three galagos cry out for help. Before Kion can instruct his team, Fuli rushes to the rescue, saving them on her own. Kion lectures her for rushing ahead of them, but Fuli reminds him that she'd known she could handle it by herself.

Shortly afterward, the team stumbles across Mapema Rock, where Bunga resolves to hunt for Utamu grubs, but as the honey badger is explaining himself to his friends, the Lion Guard hears a cry for help. Ono scouts ahead and reports that a serval has tried to jump across Big Ravine. Once again, without waiting for instruction, Fuli makes the save on her own, and Kion confronts her in a fury.

After the argument, Kion instructs Fuli to rest while the other members of the Lion Guard help Bunga find Utamu grubs. When the group appears to get lost in their search, Bunga instructs them to follow the dung beetles, and the friends take off after a group of dung-rolling beetles.

While following the dung beetles, Bunga tells his friends about the day he'd met his uncles, Timon and Pumbaa, after which Bunga attempts to climb a tree to fetch some Utamu for his uncles. However, the branch breaks, and the Utamu fall into the river below. As Bunga grieves, Kion gently reminds him that they've just spotted vultures circling over the savanna and that an animal may need their help.

As the Lion Guard draws nearer, they see Fuli being set upon on all sides by Mzingo and his flock. Just in time, the Lion Guard fights them off, and Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to blow the flock away. Once the vultures are gone, Fuli thanks her friends for saving her and promises to wait for them on the next mission.

After Fuli is rescued, the Lion Guard travels to Hakuna Matata Falls, where they share in a feast of grubs with Timon and Pumbaa.

### Follow that Hippo!

"*You kids had quite an adventure today. And you know what? I think you've all earned the Mark of the Guard.*"
—Kion to Mtoto's friends

The Lion Guard is alerted to a hyena attack and arrives on the scene, demanding to know where the hyenas are. At Kion's cry, a group of young animals emerges from the thicket, explaining that they had simply been playing "Lion Guard." Kion gently explains to them the dangers of pretending to be hyenas, and the young animals vow to never play in such a way again.

After the promise is made, a shy Mtoto approaches his idol, Beshte, and suggests that the real Lion Guard play with them. The other young animals are excited by this idea, but Kion admits that they have business elsewhere. However, Mtoto begs Beshte to stay, and the hippopotamus invites Mtoto to watch them train.

Once at the training grounds, Beshte tells the team that he's brought along Mtoto, and Kion agrees to let the young elephant train with them. First, the team does an obstacle course, but when it's Mtoto's turn to dash through the water, he gets water in his trunk and sprays it all over Fuli. After Mtoto's mistake, Kion decides to run a stealth-surround drill, in which the team attempts to sneak up on him without alerting him to their presence. However, as they're drilling, Mtoto accidentally falls down a steep cliff and lands on an unprepared Bunga.

After Beshte leaves to walk Mtoto home, Kion continues to train his team by pitting Bunga against Fuli in a race. After the race, Kion asks Ono to look for Beshte, who hasn't shown up for training yet. When Ono returns with no leads, the rest of the Lion Guard sets out in search of Beshte, and they stumble across Mtoto's friends, who inform the team that Beshte is saving Mtoto from the hyenas.

Ono happens to catch sight of Beshte and Mtoto trapped between the hyenas and a float of crocodiles, and he races back to alert the team. As Beshte and Mtoto defend themselves, the rest of the Lion Guard appears and dispatches of the crocodiles. In the chaos, the hyenas are knocked into the pool, where they're chased in circles by the crocodile float.

After the rescue, Mtoto relates his tale of rescue to his friends, who react with amazement and awe. Kion approaches and volunteers to give each of them a muddy mark of the Lion Guard, to which the young animals crowd around him eagerly.

### The Call of the Drongo

"*Tamaa, tricking others and taking their food upsets the Circle of Life. If I had an amazing talent like yours, I'd use it to do good.*"
—Kion to Tamaa

The Lion Guard is alerted to the presence of three predators: Makuu the crocodile, Goigoi the jackal, and Janja the hyena. The animals who've overheard these vicious predators rush up to Kion, begging him for help, and the Lion Guard sets out to stop the trouble.

While Kion attempts to find Janja, Beshte and Bunga search the river bank for Makuu, and Fuli and Ono track down Goigoi. Despite sniffing around the sites of the incidents, the Lion Guard fails to yield any results, save for the thievery of the victims' food. A confused Kion presses the animals for more information, and he discovers that Goigoi, Janja, and Makuu had all said the same thing to their victim.

Just then, the Lion Guard overhears Janja, and they follow his voice to where a drongo named Tamaa sits perched in a bush. The Lion Guard presses him for information, and the bird points them in the right direction. However, as they're following Tamaa's instructions, Ono suddenly instructs the Lion Guard to turn back.

Once they've returned to Tamaa, they witness him mimicking Janja's voice in order to scare off a hyrax. A furious Kion confronts him for his wrongdoing, and Tamaa admits that he's been the one scaring off animals in order to steal their food. He then sings *Bird of a Thousand Voices* to explain his talent to the Lion Guard. Despite Tamaa's impressive skill, Kion remains unimpressed and makes Tamaa promise to only use his own voice from now on.

No sooner has Tamaa made his promise when the Lion Guard overhears the real Janja chasing down a herd of impalas. They race to the rescue and put a stop to the hyena's schemes, forcing Janja and his cronies, Cheezi and Chungu, back into the Outlands.

Not long after the hyena incident, the Lion Guard happens across a zebra who is fervently trying to escape danger. Upon being questioned, the zebra reveals that he and the impalas had heard Kion instructing them to go to the Outlands for safety. Suspicious, Kion surmises that Janja is forcing Tamaa to herd impalas into the Outlands for his own satisfaction, and the Lion Guard rushes to put a stop to the danger.

Just as the hyenas are cornering Tamaa in the Outlands, the real Lion Guard arrives and chases the hyenas away from Tamaa and the herd of impalas. Together, they escort the impalas back to the Pride Lands, where Tamaa vows to only use his voice for good from now on. After making his promise, Tamaa imitates Bunga's voice as he swoops away.

### Paintings and Predictions

The Lion Guard finds an infant gazelle whose hoof is stuck under a large rock. Beshte rushes down and lifts the rock off the gazelle's hoof, but the moment Bunga pulls him free, they both go tumbling over the edge of a steep drop. Just in time, Kion grabs hold of Bunga, and both animals are pulled to safety.

After the rescue, Ono escorts the gazelle home while the rest of the team heads to the Lair of the Lion Guard. Not long after this, Ono comes swooping in, reporting a zebra stampede. The team takes off to sort out the problem, but as they run alongside the stampede, Bunga recognizes the pile of rocks from when he'd messed around with Rafiki's painting. Horrified, he realizes that the rocks are going to fall on the zebra herd, and so with the Lion Guard's help, he steers the zebras to safety, and the rock falls harmlessly to the earth.

With the mission successfully sorted, Bunga goes to show Beshte the paintings, while Kion stays behind and questions the zebras as to why they'd stampeded. The herd leader explains that a loud "boom" – or thunder, as Kion figures out – had stirred them into a frenzy. The Lion Guard reassures the herd that they're safe, and Kion sends Ono to guide the zebras home.

Meanwhile, Bunga shows Beshte the paintings that had supposedly predicted the future, and the two spot another painting of Kion in a tree. When Bunga touches Rafiki's staff to the wall, it shows Kion begin to plummet from the tree. A terrified Beshte and Bunga resolve to warn their friend.

On the peak of Pride Rock, Beshte and Bunga attempt to warn Kion of the cave's foresight, but the cub scoffs at them, disbelieving their wild stories. No sooner has he denied their worries when Ono swoops overhead, warning the team of a hyena attack. With no time left to worry over Rafiki's paintings, the Lion Guard takes off.

Once there, Kion instructs his team to take on Cheezi and Chungu, while he handles Janja. As Janja chases a zebra around a large rock, Kion decides to climb an overhanging tree branch in order to ambush him, but Bunga races after him, tackling him to the ground. Together, the two fall on top of Janja, who races off to the Outlands.

After the awkward rescue, Kion questions Bunga as to why he'd tackled him, but Bunga simply whispers to Beshte that Kion had fallen from the tree, just as the paintings had predicted. Beshte, however, notes that it had been Bunga who'd knocked Kion from the tree, so the cub might still be in danger. Just then, Ono reports that three zebras are stranded on the other side of Maji Baridi Falls.

Along the way, Bunga attempts to save Kion from tripping over a tree branch, but the branch turns out to be Ushari, who slithers away in disgust. A suspicious Fuli confronts her friends, who explain the danger Kion is in, and Fuli decides to help them. Just then, Ono calls for Kion to climb a tree and take a look around, but Beshte, Bunga, and Fuli scramble to save him, leaping up on the trunk so that the tree falls to the ground.

Kion demands to know what his friends had been doing, but he is interrupted when Ono spots a shortcut through the trees. Bunga quickly suggests a different route, and Beshte and Fuli support him until the team takes the new route, through a neck-deep, muddy river. While paddling the river, Bunga explains to Ono the danger that Kion is in, and Ono agrees to help the team.

The Lion Guard arrives at Maji Baridi Falls, where Beshte, Bunga, Fuli, and Ono become so distracted worrying over Kion that they fail to notice him crossing a large log over the raging river. In a panic, the friends cross the log to save him, but the log tips, throwing the team to the other side of the river. Furious, Kion demands to know why his friends are acting so strangely, and Bunga reminds him that Rafiki's paintings had predicted his fall from a tree branch. Kion, however, refuses to believe him.

With Kion in charge once more, Beshte rises to his feet and accidentally sends a rock rolling toward the zebras, who panic and fall into the river. The Lion Guard races alongside them until they reach the end of the falls, where Kion resolves to climb down on an overhanging tree branch and roar the zebras to safety. Bunga protests adamantly, worried for his friend, but Kion denounces the paintings once and for all, and climbs down to save the zebras. From the tip of the tree branch, Kion uses the Roar of the Elders, blowing the zebras to safety. On his way up, he slips and falls, but manages to catch himself and rejoin the team.

After the rescue, the team returns to the Lair of the Lion Guard, where Rafiki shows the friends that the paintings had been depictions of the past, not the future. With his staff, he shows that the zebra herd hadn't been running toward the rocks, but away from them after they'd fallen. He then explains that the cub they'd thought was Kion is actually the father of Nala, Kion's mother.

### The Mbali Fields Migration

Ono reports to Kion that a herd of gazelles are fighting with a herd of zebras. The Lion Guard arrives on the scene, and Beshte recognizes the gazelles as being Swala's herd and the zebras as being Muhimu's herd.

The Lion Guard rushes down the slope to put a stop to the fight, and Kion steps forward, roaring for silence. With the herds now paying attention, he and Beshte point out that the grazing grounds in the Pride Lands are open to everyone, but Muhimu and Swala explain that there's only one small patch of grass left for them to share.

Kion goes to his father, Simba, for advice, and the king advises his son to take the herds to Mbali Fields, a grazing ground on the edge of the Pride Lands. A shocked Kion wonders if he is adept enough to lead a migration, but Simba assures him that he will do fine.

Kion returns to the herds the next day, and Ono reports a route that they can take to Mbali Fields. After Ono's report, Kion announces to the herds that he will be leading them to Mbali Fields, and the two herds cheer for him. With a proud Kion in the lead, the herds set out, and "A Trail to Hope" plays as the combined herds follow Kion through the Pride Lands.

Eventually, the herds make it to a canyon, where Kion attempts to encourage the gazelles and zebras through their fatigue and hunger. Ono then assures Kion that they're close, though he voices his worries about an oncoming storm. As the herds pause to behold Mbali Fields, Muhimu loses patience and begins to charge down the canyon with her herd. Not to be outdone, Swala and her gazelles tear after them.

A frantic Lion Guard attempts to stop them, but, too late, a huge pile of rocks falls into the midst of the canyon, blocking the way into Mbali Fields. Kion realizes that they must scout out another route, for the rocks are unmovable, and Ono rushes to fulfill this new command. However, when he returns to Kion, he admits that the only other way to Mbali Fields takes them through the Outlands. Grimly, Kion accepts their fate.

As the herds set out, the storm breaks over the canyon, and the combined herds begin to complain about Kion's leadership. No sooner have they finished griping when a flash flood forces the herds to race to higher ground. While Ono leads the herds to higher ground, Kion and the rest of the Guard rescue those still trapped in the rising waters, including Swala, who is rescued by Kion.

Once the herds are safe, they begin to complain about Kion, criticizing his choice to take them through the canyon. Dejected and hurt, Kion seeks counsel from his grandfather, Mufasa, who advises him to have confidence in himself and not depend on the opinions of others. After the talk, Kion returns to the herds with new energy, but they continue to gripe against him, refusing to trust him, until Muhimu speaks up and takes the blame for starting the stampede. She then promises to make things easier from now on, and Kion thanks her for her loyalty.

Thanks to Muhimu's words of encouragement, the herds trust Kion to lead them into the Outlands. However, just as they've entered the Outlands, Muhimu begins to go into labor, and Kion is forced to make a difficult choice. While he sends Beshte, Fuli, and Ono ahead to keep leading the herds, he and Bunga stay behind to help Muhimu give birth.

Under the careful watch of Swala and several others, Muhimu gives birth to a son. No sooner has the zebra foal been born when he emits a loud bray, which attracts the attention of Janja and his minions, Cheezi and Chungu. The three plunge down the ridge in the hopes of scattering the gazelles and zebras, but Kion orders them to protect Muhimu and her foal while he and Bunga take on the hyenas.

Together, Bunga and Kion distract Cheezi and Chungu, but Janja manages to break through their defense to attack the zebras. However, he is kicked in the face by Muhimu's foal, and the hyenas scramble to get away, having been bested by the herds' teamwork. With the hyenas defeated, the Lion Guard leads the rest of the gazelles and zebras home, where Bunga plays happily with Muhimu's foal.

### Bunga and the King

Kion prepares to go with his sister and parents to Mizimu Grove to attend Ma Tembo's Herd's concert. Just then, Ono arrives to tell Kion that antelope are stuck in mud near Chekundu Cliffs. Simba and Nala encourage their son to go with Ono to help the antelope, as keeping the Pride Lands' animals safe is his job.

While helping free the antelope with the rest of the Lion Guard, Kion is alerted by Ono that Simba has fallen into a sinkhole. Kion arrives at the scene and asks Nala if his father is all right. Shortly afterward, Bunga recklessly jumps into the sinkhole to save Simba and ends up trapped too. Kion and the rest of the Lion Guard fetch a log for Simba and Bunga to climb up, but the log smashes into pieces when it hits the bottom of the pit.

Bunga notices a tunnel at the side of the sinkhole, which Simba believes might lead to Nandembo Caverns. Simba tells his theory to Kion, who agrees to meet his father and friend at the entrance. Kion brings Timon and Pumbaa into the caverns, but the two merely cry over their lost sons. Simba and Bunga hear their cries and go to them, but find that a large ravine separates them from Kion and the others. The two are able to jump over the ravine and reunite with the others.

Kion goes with Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and the Lion Guard to Mizimu Grove to meet with Nala and Kiara, just as the concert finishes. Kion joins in with his family, Timon, Pumbaa, and the Lion Guard in singing *Hakuna Matata*.