Rise of a King

**Rise of a King** is the first episode in Season 4.

## Synopsis

Kion is now crowned the King of the Tree of Life alongside Rani. However, it seems troubles are already brewing…

## Script

The coronation party had been a fun-filled and lively one. Animals from both the Pride Lands and the Tree of Life were talking to each other and mingling. Surak and Nirmala were talking to Simba and Nadra. Kovu and Kiara were talking to Baliyo and Rani. The rest of the Lion Guard were talking to their old and new friends.

“We should get going now.” Simba shouted out to the crowd. “It’s night now, and i do think most of us would want to go back home now!”. The Pridelanders started to gather together, saying goodbye to their new friends and acquaintances. Kion’s parents and sister came up to him.

”We’re going to miss you Kion.” Kiara said as she nuzzled Kion.

”I will miss you, all of you.” Kion replied back to his family.

”Yes, and on that note.” Nadra started. “There is something I need to tell you. Kiara, please call Kovu here?”. Kiara called out for Kovu, and he walked over and sat down. “I’m…not Nala.” Nadra started.

”Huh?” Kiara looked confused. “What do you mean?”

”It’s…complicated. I am Nadra, Nala’s half little sister. I watched everything, Scar’s hyenas and Simba’s return.” Nadra stated, turning to Simba. “Simba did wed Nala, and they would go on to have…a cub and a while later, Kiara. However, Zira…she believed that is was also Nala who was at fault, since she brought back Simba. She attacked Nala, not long after she gave birth to you. She…she passed. I took her spot, since it was required that a Queen would be needed. I would give birth to Kion, Aisha and Naba.”

Kiara and Kion just looked down.

“I’m sorry, Kiara.” Nadra started. “But, i want you to know that i have loved being your mother. And most of the time, i do forget that i am not your birth mother.”

”Mom…it’s ok.” Kiara looked up at her. “You may not have given birth to me, but you are still my mother. I would have loved to know the real Nala, but I am glad I have gotten to call you my mother.”

”Oh Kiara…” Simba smiled.

”Hey, Kion!”

Kion turned his head back, confused as to who’s voice it belonged to. He spotted King Tojo and Queen Kila of the Grass Lands, his half uncle and aunt, with Crown Prince Afua and Crown Princess Aisha, his sister.

”Aisha!” Kion ran up to his sister, Kiara not far behind. “I’m surprised that you managed to travel here! I haven’t seen you since not long before dad was stung by that scorpion.”

”Well, you know how that spirt kept me from visiting! Anyways, Uncle and Aunt thought it would be a good idea to come and visit!” Aisha stated.

”Yeah!” Afua spoke in response. “And see if Kion did truly become a King Consort!”

”Now, now Afua. Play nice.” Kula chuckled.

”Well, me and the pride were just about to go home.” Simba said.

”O-oh.” Tojo said. “I guess we’ll just walk back with you?”

”Of course!” Simba smiled at his half brother, before turning back to Kion.

”Goodbye, son.” Simba said, as the Pridelanders shouted once last goodbye before leaving.

”Wait!” Nadra shouted in a panic. “Where’s Naba?”

The Pridelanders looked around for Naba. Naba was the son of Simba and Nala, who had been born during the time of Scar’s attacks. He had hurt his paw just before his sister’s first hunt, so was unable to be in any of the events. While his paw had now healed, his family was still worried. Naba had been in between the elephants during the coronation.

”Hey, is this your Naba?” Rani stated, looking forward towards the Tree of Life, where a small cub was sitting.

”Naba!” Kion spoke, running towards him. “Are you ok? You made everyone panic.”

”Kion…” Naba said gloomy, looking up at him. “Will you forget me?”

”Of course not! What made you think that?” Kion looked down at his little brother in confusion.

“It’s just that when you and the guard left for the Tree for the first time, you promised that you would send messenger birds to tell us how you were.” Naba sniffed. “But..you never did.”

“Oh, Naba.” Kion frowned down at his brother, as he pulled him closer. “I didn’t realise that not many animals would be bothered to travel that length for us, with nothing in return. This time, i promise I will. All the time! Ono, Anga and Ullu could go!”

”Hooray.” Anga said.

”You…you promise?” Naba looked up.

”I promise.” Kion smiled down.

”Ok…” Naba stated, as he stood up. “Everyone’s leaving now, bye Kion! Bye Lion Guard!” Naba shouted to them as he ran off. “And bye Night Pride and new sister-in-law! Forgot to say that!”

”Your brother is…mischievous.” Rani said, as she walked up to Kion.

”That’s what pretty much every other animal says.” Kion replied, chuckling.

”I saw him playing with Feliks, Pasha and Polina.” Rani nodded.

“Anyways, what do we do now? It’s night now.” Kion asked, looking around.

”Oh, right!” Rani stated, as the Lion Guard and Night Pride came closer. “Surak, Nirmala and Baliyo - you three should go wait for me at the border. I will show the Lion Guard to their new homes.” The Night Pride nodded as they headed for the border. “All of you did sleep outside, since we didn’t know you were now going to live here. If that’s where you would like to continue to live, you could?”

”I think we would all like to have a new home to stay.” Besthe said.

”Of course!” Rani looked at Besthe, smiling. “Anga and Ono, there is a few trees not a long way past the Tree of Life. You could make nests there, no other birds inhabit that area. Besthe, there are no hippos in the Tree, but there is a small lake full of fish next to those trees. There is also space for you to sleep, Fuli!”

“Sure!” Fuli stretched out. “I think we should all go, bye Kion!”

“I think i could stay here for the night?” Azaad asked Fuli, to which she nodded. “Thank you, Fuli.”

The rest of the Guard followed Fuli and Azaad. “Bunga!” Binga shouted, running to Bunga.

”Oh, Binga!” Bunga looked, turning to Binga.

”Come with me, then! You will be staying in my home in the Marsh forest!” Binga smiled.

”Alright!” Bunga smiled, following Binga. “Bye, Kion!”

”Bye Bunga!” Kion waved. “So, what do we do now Rani?”

”I have to go on patrol with the Night Pride.” Rani stated, nuzzling Kion. “I will be back my morning though. You should get some rest now, it has been a busy day today for you.

”Alright. Night!” Kion said, as he walked into the Tree. He looked forward, seeing Makini humming to herself as she painted the day’s events.

”That’s amazing, Makini!” Kion looked at all the paintings of the Coronation.

”I know thank you Kion!” Makini looked up in glee at them. “Though i didn’t paint your Uncle and Aunt and Cousin and Sister, since i ran out of paint! I will get some more in the morning, i am going to go sleep now, night Kion!”

”Uhhh…night Makini.” Kion smiled, as Makini walked off to her sleeping place. Kion yawned, as he layed down upon the Rock, drifting away to sleep.

—————————-—————————————————————————————————————————————————

”Well that was a crazy day!” Baliyo said, as the Night Pride walked in the Mountain Pass.

”I think you could say that again!” Ullu spoke as she plopped herself on Nirmala’s shoulder.

“At least you and Kion are mates now, Rani.” Surak said, looking at his niece.

”Yes, thank you Surak.” Rani replied, not looking up.

”Something troubling you, Rani?” Nirmala looked at Rani.

”She is probably thinking about *our* wedding.” Surak smiled.

”Wait…you two..?” Baliyo looked at the two confused.

”Oh yes!” Surak replied. “I mean, it kind of was…?”

”Well, yeah.” Nirmala responded. “You know that i was just a young infant when Queen Jana recused me and my brother Sãhasí. Surak was also a infant like me, so we did grow close. Then our siblings got together and had you two. And then..”

”That is actually what i was thinking of.” Rani stated. “How Mom and Dad…you know…”

”It’s ok, Rani.” Surak looked at Rani. “No one could have predicted that fire. Sãhasí and Ãnanda were doing their duty in protecting the Tree and the inhabitants.”

”Come on, everyone!” Ullu stated, flying up in the air. “We should go on patrol now!”

”Yes, come on!” Nirmala said, as they started to walk off.

”It’s going to be kind of weird now since those villains are not around anymore.” Baliyo said to Surak. “But more peaceful!”

”Did you hear that, sister!” A male lion whispered from the bushes.

”Of course i did, fool!” A female lion whispered in response.

”Their gone now!” The male lion stated, as he rose up.

”Get back down wind, Askara!” The female shouted. “They might smell us!”

”No need to worry, Kila!” Askara rolled his eyes. “Our pride is hiding in a cave in the Mountains anyways, so they are safe.”

”I know that the pride will be safe! I am talking about us!” Kila snapped at her brother.

”Calm down!” Askara rolled his eyes. “Anyways, it is a good thing that you now call me by my new name! I didn’t like my old one anyways, Askara suits me more!”

”Whatever.” Kila said, as she hit her paw over her brother’s head. “Now we have to wait for that Night Pride to come back here so we can go! And that Owl better not spot us like she nearly did last time!”

”Yes, *nearly*. Only *nearly*.” Askara rolled his eyes, as he layed down. “I think that we should rule this Tree of Life.”

”What do you mean?” Kila said, turning her head towards her brother. “You saw that Coronation! The Night Pride now has ten members! I don’t think our small pride of eight will top that off!”

”Yes, but we are strong!” Askara shouted at his sister.

”Stop shouting!” Kila shouted back.

”You stop shouting!” Askara shouted back. Footsteps broke the siblings out of their streaming match, as they both ducked down into the bushes.

”I heard it over here!” Ullu said, looking around at the area.

”I don’t smell anything.” Baliyo said in confusing.

”Hey, look at this!” Surak called the Night Pride over. They all walked over towards where Surak was calling them. As they all walked to that side, Askara and Kila ran quietly back to their pride.

”Paw prints! And freshly made ones too.” Nirmala looked down at them. “They can’t be any of the Pride Lands lions. They have been gone for a while now, and they don’t seem to match any of them.”

“It seems like there were two lions.” Surak replied. “What do you do, Rani?”

”I feel as if we should inform the Guard tomorrow and up the patrols around this area.” Rani stated. “We should be going now, it seems like they left, and we still have a lot more patrolling to do!”

”Right behind you, sister!” Baliyo shouted as he ran next to her.

”I hope that these lions don’t mean anything bad for the Tree now…” Rani spoke, as the Night Pride looked up into the sky.