The Final Crack

**The Final Crack** is the fourteenth episode of Season 4.

## Synopsis

The final crack between Kion and Rani occurs, and shatters.

## Script

A few more days had passed, and things seemed to be distant. Kion and Rani were spending not as much time as they used to together. Kion did feel guilty about wanting to spend more time with her. Beba, the cheetah sent by Simba, had arrived and taken Kion’s long message back to the Pride Lands. One morning, just after patrol, Kion noticed that Goshant and Rani had left the Tree. Kion thought this was odd, as they had both been on late night patrol. He followed them to some cliffs, near Cikha Escarpment. Kion hid behind some rocks.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about, Rani?” Goshant asked, as they both sat down. “If you don’t mind, I would like to go first.”

”Of course.” Rani replied, turning to him. “You can go first.”

”Well.” Goshant started, before looking to the ground. “I didn’t exactly tell you the full truth about my story. I am, or at least my mother, was from the Tree of Life. Her name was Accha. She was born during Queen Janna’s reign. She…she didn’t respect the rules of the Tree of Life, and got herself banished. Soon after, she had me. You know the rest.”

”Oh, Goshant.” Rani started. “I’m sorry about that. But, we can’t chose who our parents are. What we can choose is who we are.”. Kion nodded, he did agree with that.

”Now, it’s my turn.” Rani said. Kion’s heart was racing. He wondered what she was going to say. Maybe something about her and Kion not being close and wanting to rekindle their love?

”I don’t think I’m in love with Kion anymore.” Rani stated, looking down at the ground. Kion’s face formed a small gasp. His heart shattered. Goshant was also shocked too by this revelation.

”Why not?” Goshant finally asked. “You two seemed so in love, that’s what Surak and Nirmala said at least!”

”In the beginning, yes. I did love him.” Rani spoke. “But, now that I think about it, it was too quick, and have been just a teenage infatuation with each other. There was also another element a little bit: The Roar. You know about Kion’s roar of the elders. It came from the Tree of Life many, many years ago and was given to Askari. When Kion came to become healed, i suggested that Kion leave his roar, even if he left. I…I’m not sure, anymore…the roar is good, but now…I do see Kion as stronger without the roar, his leadership and fighting skills.”

Kion’s eye widened, as tears became to flow down. He had *truly* loved Rani, cared for her. Now, was she asking to not be mates anymore? And about the roar, she admitted to using it a bit in the beginning, but now did she realise that they didn’t need it? That Kion was still strong with his skills?

”Why are you telling me all of this though, your highness?” Goshant asked, looking at Rani who looked down at the ground. “I’m just some rogue. Why not Surak, or Baliyo? Or Kion himself?”

”Because.” Rani said, raising her head. “I now think that you…you are the one I truly love, Goshant.”

Kion couldn’t take it anymore. He ran, not caring whether Goshant or Rani heard. Tears streamed down his face as he carried on running. He didn’t care where, he just ran. He heard animals of the Tree of Life, such as Kely, Pinguino, Kiril and Binga, shout to him and ask him if he was ok, but he didn’t answer. He ran until he fell at the opening of the Tree of Life. Nirmala, who was now resting from her fighting duties due to her having her cubs soon, looked down at Kion.

”Kion!” Nirmala gasped, looking down at him. “Are you ok?! You’re crying and…you ran through a thorn patch!”. Indeed, Kion had ran through a thorn patch, and he had scratches and was bleeding a bit. The Lion Guard, who was just walking towards the Tree when Kion hadn’t come, noticed and ran towards him.

”What happened, Nirmala?!” Fuli asked, worried.

”He just came like this!” Nirmala replied, in a panic. “Besthe, gently pick up Kion and place him on the rock.”

Besthe nodded as he picked up Kion. Kion was still letting tears fall down his face. He didn’t care about the pain. The pain of what Rani said was enough pain to serve him his whole life. The whole Night Pride looked over.

”What happened to him?” Xolo asked.

”He hasn’t said anything.” Anga replied.

”Maybe we should leave him for a while?” Baliyo suggested. “That’s all I can think of right now.”

”Speaking of alone.” Mjanja started. “Where is Queen Rani?”. The sound of her name made Kion stop crying for a second. He looked up, with the last tears leaving his eyes. He saw everyone looking at him with worry. He realised that he must have ran to the Tree.

”What happened, Kion?” Bunga asked, looking at him. Nirmala and Makini were now treating him. “You can tell us. We’re you family.”

“Rani…she…she…she…” Kion could only say that, before passing out. The guard gasped, as they looked at him.

”Don’t worry.” Nirmala replied. “He must have passed out due to running in those thorns while crying and not stopping. He’ll be awake soon.”. The guard stayed with him, alongside the Night Pride. A few hours later, Kion began to wake up.

”Kion!” Ono gasped, as everyone looked.

”G-guys…?” Kion looked up at them. “I’m…I’m sorry..”

”You don’t need to apologise.” Fuli started. “But, what happened? Why were you crying?”

Kion remembered what Rani had said. It wasn’t a nightmare. It was *real*. Kion looked at all of them. The whole guard, plus the Night Pride and Makini waited for him. He sighed. He told them everything that Rani had said. Word for word. Shock was replaced on the Night Pride, while anger replaced on Fuli’s face.

”So she lied to you!” Fuli growled.

”How could she!” Bunga replied, with slight anger.

”No…Rani doesn’t care about the Roar anymore. But, she loves Goshant, not me…” Kion replied, letting out a small sniff.

”I can’t believe this.” Surak said, standing up. “Kion, Lion Guard. I would understand if you would want to leave now.”

”No.” Kion responded. “If that’s ok to you. We have a duty now, to protect the Tree of Life, and it’s inhabitants. Just because of what happened, doesn’t mean that it will get in the way of our duty.”

”Kion?”

Everyone turned their heads towards the entrance of the Tree of Life, where Goshant and Rani stood.

”We need to talk.” Kion said.