#evil kion

[devilsrecreation]

Are we gonna have a problem?

You got a bone to pick?

We’re gonna rule this land and we’re gonna do it quick!

We honestly could just eat you

Like some filthy little grub

But we’re being nice, here’s some advice

Come on, lion cub!

[inamindfarfaraway]

So I wrote these villain song cover lyrics and animatic scripts for Disney Junior princesses Sofia the First and Elena of Avalor in AUs where they turned evil, inspired by Lydia the Bard’s series of Disney Princess villain songs. And I’ve been getting back into The Lion Guard lately. And since a main theme of that show is about Kion not wanting to turn out like Scar despite their parallels… I couldn’t resist writing this. Half the plot of Season Three is him trying not to have a corruption arc! It was right there!

All this to say, I hope any Lion Guard fans on here enjoy this. I haven’t had Kion follow too closely in Scar’s footsteps; his villainous goal is arguably the exact opposite. It’s his methods that are problem. Canon is pretty fine by me, minor quibbles aside (Kion deserved to grow a mane, for one), but it’s fun to explore how much worse things could have gone. Comments are appreciated!

[bunnwich]

Bunbun, how do you think Leona got his scar??

How Leona Got His Scar and Other Thoughts

So this is for sure something I’ve thought about a lot and how Leona’s Scar relates to him as a character. I get that it's very likely he was simply given a scar by Yana to mirror his Great Seven counterpart of Scar...but you guys know I love to create my own lore. I personally find the little information we do get on Leona’s scar interesting. In one of Leona's chats, Ruggie asks Leona where he got his Scar and notes that The King of Beasts also has a scar on his left eye.

Of course, Leona, being Leona, brushes off the question and says he doesn't remember, but logically, we know it would be silly for someone to forget how such a prominent injury was received. And as far as we know, he doesn't have any other scars besides this one. 

So, he’s avoiding the truth. Either so the writers can be cheeky about it all, since Scar’s scar origins have had many recons. OR, if you wanna look deeper, maybe there is an implication that Leona prefers not to talk about it because the memory is upsetting. So, he brushes it off with a smirk.

Since I love angst, I prefer the latter. But, let's put a pin in that for a sec.

I think an interesting aspect to all this is that in the Magical Archives (I believe) it's mentioned that scars are something to be proud of in Sunset Savanna, which always kinda puzzled me.

We know that Twisted Wonderland has a skewed perception of the respective Disney villains, but it's still an interesting choice.

In the Lion King lore, a scar is essentially a bad omen. After Scar's death, two characters, Kion and Kovu, are condemned to others viewing them negatively. It's treated as a "Mark of Evil" in the Lion Guard show and even used as a symbol of Kion's deteriorating mental health. There is a symbol found on the ground that they refer to as a “Mark of Evil" where Scar's spirit manifested. TBH, even the treatment of Scar himself borders on ableism and the fact that people refer to him BY his disfigurement is kinda wild.

(Lion Guard wiki)

Since we kinda get conflicting lore from TLK and Twisted Wonderland on how scars are viewed...this really made me think about how it affects Leona. 

I like to believe the view of scars is nuanced in the Sunset Savanna. Maybe now with the younger generations, there is a different attitude regarding scars and they no big deal. Maybe because of the King of Beasts more positive influence, they just are seen as a more "heroic" thing in general. 

But, going back to Leona-

I think with what we know of his backstory a chunk of his people view him as this “bad omen” already due to his unique magic. And maybe after Leona received his “mark,” at some point as a child, some folks (maybe older ones) became even more apt to view him as a cursed prince. In Leona’s overblot flashback, we see how the servants in the palace fear and gossip about him.

Since we don't know the full truth of it, since the writers love to deprive us of Leona lore… My headcanon is this- When he and Falena were young, someone went to attack Falena and because the guard’s attention was so focused on the direct heir, Leona was hurt in the crossfire. Not only this, Leona has quite an adverse reaction to being attacked (perhaps for the first time physically as I also HC he was a weak child) However, he was still a child with a powerful Unique Magic, one he maybe couldn't control well at the time. So he attacks the attacker, who was maybe even just another child playing rough or perhaps just a rowdy peasant? Either way, this doesn't end well, he perhaps fatally injures the attacker and is punished for it. And so, begins the series complexes he has as the grumpy Lion we know now.

The desire for him to always be in control and be proficient at magic and magical defense.

His cynicism confirmed. Being reminded again of his place in life. Being only viewed as "a spare heir" compared to his brother. An unnecessary piece.

The disconnection he feels with his family and their disapproval of him and his actions.

Perhaps, this is why Leona is so good at defensive magic (like he mentions to Riddle who failed to collar him at first in Chapter 2.) Maybe this is why he chose to take up sports and self-defense, to protect himself from others despite preferring his intellect to fight. We know he at some point learns from Kifaji how to wrestle in the Catch the Tail Tournament. All this to say, I believe whatever happened is something traumatic for Leona and linked to his insecurities as a person. (Kinda like in many of Scar's backstories) I get into that a bit in this fic I wrote of Yuu comforting Leona. I just find it interesting to think about how the memory of receiving his Scar has affected him as he got older. While cocky and good at acting nonchalant, I do believe, deep down Leona feels uneasy about others' commenting about it or touching it.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts, as per usual! Thanks for asking I enjoyed yapping!

[cozymochi]

Sorry for asking about the teeth 🤣 I was just extremely curious and won't ask the other question that also popped into my head about his teeth.

I am actually really interested in learning about both Nyoka and Cecil's magics. And just in general. As someone who likes to gush about their characters to my friends, I really like knowing all about characters, especially ones other people have created.

Whatever you're willing to share about them, I'd be very interested in hearing about

other question khjgh ITS FINE I THINK IT’S FUNNY, Thank you and everyone else for the interest 😭😳💖 I probably don’t say that enough I really really do appreciate it. Time to drop important lore on a random post 👍 These are gonna be super paraphrased 😭 one spell is less complicated than the other.

CECILS SIGNATURE SPELL:

“Sorcerers’ Stand-Still”

Renders a person or people frozen in place like a statue unable to move or speak until the caster either releases it, runs out of magic reserves to hold it, or it runs it’s course and wears off on it’s own.

A person is consciously aware that they are frozen in place. There’s no protection qualities here, they’re just stuck. It doesn’t seem like much, but he knows how to use it.

Inspiration: The “Standstill Stone” spell that Cedric used to briefly take over the kingdom in season 4 premiere of Sofia the First.

NYOKAS SIGNATURE SPELL:

“Mark of Evil”

intrusive thoughts the spell

His magically-infused cobra venom can affect someone's mind and remove their morality and act on cruel impulses if injected via bite. His magic inflicts waves of pain and makes it difficult for a victim to think and control their own actions.

It’s not immediately obvious to anyone else that a person is under a spell at all. However, as the effect goes on, the victim becomes more and more openly uncharacteristic, irritable and difficult as their psyche and personality continues to fall apart. Self destruction is almost guaranteed, so it’s ideal to release them before it reaches that point.

Don’t worry, venom won’t be lethal this time because magic, but a victim’s memory will be hazy and they will be quite a bit sore afterwards. 👍 He has more incentive not to use it. But, hey if you wanna feel less bad about doing something terrible-

Inspiration: The magic bite Ushari inflicts on Kion at the start of season 3 of the Lion Guard, and the maddening effects it causes from that moment on till the end of the show. (Heavily paraphrased.)

[australet789]

TLK: Perfectly Valued Act 5 Page 10

In the show, there's the implication that only herbivores are real "Pridelanders", to the point that Fuli was not allowed to hunt and Kion scared aardwolves because he thought they were "evil hyenas". Even an Okapi gets better treatment in season 1, from Simba. Makes you think

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[mad-raptorzzz]

[Image Description: The SixFanarts challenge. The first is Whiteout from WOF, a Night/IceWing hybrid who is a dark grey-blue with a lighter belly. She has ice blue freckles throughout and caribous like horns. The second panel is Cera the triceratops from The Land Before Time. She is a peach color and is making a snarky face. The third panel is the villain The Nowhere King from Centaurworld. The design is a deer skull with glowing neon green eyes sitting in a bunch of dark goo. The fourth panel shows Randall from Monsters Inc. He is clinging to the box and grimacing in disgust. The fifth panel has Kion from the Lion Guard. He has yellow fur and a red mullet-esque mane. His left eye is scared and pale blue, indicating vision loss. The sixth and final panel contains Frostpaw from Warrior cats. She is a pale grey cat with a tipped left ear and human-made scar across her neck. Her eyes are widened in horror./End]

Wooooof, I finally finished this. Thanks to @bi-pan-whiteout for suggesting Whiteout!! I just chose the other 5. It was fun to draw non-dragons for a hot second. But man oh man do I need to practice lion king characters and cats

Whiteout: I tried a more traditional coloring scheme for her. I think I might still like piebald Whiteout. But I have like 15 designs for her in my brain at all times. She's just got so much potential!! Love her obviously.

Cera: Land Before Time is a big nostalgia trip for me. I gave Cera actual triceratops horns because it always bothered me she didn't have the eye horns. She also should have scars on her because my girl is ready to throw hands at all times.

The Nowhere King: Oh man Centaurworld was an absolute blast start to finish. This guy was my personal favorite part. His story is tragic, but they let him continue being evil. Such a wicked design too. Goop with a skull.

Randall: Randall is one of my favorite Disney/Pixar villains. Right up there with Scar and Ursulla and Hades. I just like that he's a conniving little guy. And his colors and design are just perfect.

Kion: So I know some Lion King fans really don't like the Lion Guard show. I don't mind it. The Lion King is my second favorite movie of all time, and Simba's Pride is my favorite direct to video Disney sequel. I enjoyed the show, even though I was waaaay older than the target audience. Especially the third season when they aged things up a bit. I imagine that Kion lost vision in his left eye after the injury. I also love his stupid little hairstyle and I doubled down.

Frostpaw: The horrors persist but so does she! She is one of my favorite characters in WC from the recent books. Such a cute little anxious lass. Trying her best. Interested to see how things go in Star.

[devilsrecreation]

Makuu, Kiburi, and Ucheshi: *shamelessly challenge Pua to a mashindano bc they firmly believe they can be a good leader and win*

Nduli: *makes one (half) joke that he would be a good leader and Pua says “bet”*

[mask-of-prime]

VG: Mystery of the Outlands - PART 2

Previous | Next

That afternoon, Vitani and Jasiri stood in the mouth of the lion-shaped den as they looked at the paintings that were scattered all around the unusual rock formation. Paintings that Jasiri could’ve sworn weren’t there the last time she had patrolled the area. At least, no pictures this clean. They spent hours making out what the paintings could possibly symbolize. The next group of pictures Jasiri set her eyes on had sparked curiosity.

“What is that?” the hyena tilted her head.

Vitani looked too. What the two saw was many paintings of groups of animals facing off against each other within what resembled the inside of the den. Next to that was paintings of faces of various animals, columns that each had two different types of animals, with one animal in every row with their face crossed off. 

There was a pattern; some of the rows were the same animals that were pitted against each other in the other paintings of them facing off inside of the den, as if there were winners and losers of battles taking place within. At the top of the battle pictures were dark lions with red eyes, each sporting unique scratches across their faces, as if they’d spectated these battles.

“Jasiri, I have a feeling this place might have been some kind of arena.” 

Vitani looked out to the open, circular space within the den.

“And those lions, they look a lot like the ancient ones who sported the Mark of Evil.” she continued, making a gesture over her eye with a claw.

“You mean… this Mark of Evil?” Jasiri asked, pointing to a black and yellow symbol.

“Exactly.” Vitani said, astonished, “That’s the symbol I saw in the Lion Guard Lair.”

“Who’s that?” Jasiri pointed to a nearby painting, “It almost looks like Kion with a full mane.”

The image showed a red-maned lion roaring atop a jagged, steep crevasse, one that was definitely nowhere near the Pridelands or its neighboring territories. Light blue animals, representing their spirits in the clouds, floated above the roaring lion.

“That would have to be Askari. First ever Leader of the Lion Guard.” the lioness sat beside the hyena, “Must be when he discovered the Roar at the Tree of Life. Like how Kion learned all those fancy moves before coming back home.”

Jasiri remembered the day Kion’s Roar changed. He learned to balance it, using what was needed to carefully move what other animals couldn’t move, and to make it across canyons and crevasses no way any other animal could. She’d left for the Tree of Life in the first place to warn Kion of the rising threat of Zira’s pride, and today, she sat next to the daughter of her enemy, naturally bonding with her.

Vitani continued to look at the painting of Askari with the lions in the clouds, her gaze becoming more and more longing, and regretful.

“But… I’m not like Kion, or Askari, or any of the other leaders. I’ve never been able to hear the Great Lions of the Past.”

“Really?”

“It’s weird. I figure it’s because I’m not related to them, or something. Sometimes, it makes me feel like I don’t even deserve the Roar, or to lead the Guard.”

“Of course you deserve the role.” Jasiri reassured, “You broke the mold, becoming the first non-royal leader.”

“I suppose…” Vitani’s voice trailed off slightly, remembering something, “Even though I can’t hear the Lions of the Past, and I don’t really use the Roar, much, I learned a couple of things on my own, too. Things I’ve never seen even Kion do.” 

“Really? Like what?”

“Can you keep a secret? Kinda don’t want this getting out to any animals who want in on this ability.”

“Of course.”

“Well… one day, at the Elephant Graveyard, I roared so hard that I’d managed to summon the spirit of my brother in fire. Just… not sure how…” Vitani turned, “You remember Nuka, right?”

“Hard to forget the time he kept trying to kick me out of the Watering Hole.”

“Heh, yeah. He would always try so hard for everyone. It’s what got him in the end…”

Jasiri could see Vitani’s gaze deepen. She would offer supportive words, but she could see that Vitani wasn’t one to want to hear it.

Though Nuka’s spirit was awakened, it didn’t take back that fateful day, and the unfair twisting of what actually happened on top of the pain of losing him.

“Anyway…” the lioness cleared her throat, “Over time, we learned to bind our spirits together, and I was soon able to control fire with my Roar.”

“Does that… hurt?”

“Oh, yeah. Feels awful after a while. Can’t use it too much.”

“Guess that’s the Great Lions telling you to keep your power in moderation.” the hyena chuckled with a toothy grin.

Vitani softly chuckled, “Yeah. Uh, maybe, I guess.”

“Even if you can’t hear them, Vitani, they still look out for you. They do that for us all. Whether they’re your ancestors or not.”

Unexpectedly, Vitani’s heart swelled a bit. She could see why Jasiri and Kiara bonded so well. Both had a knack for seeing beyond one’s surface. Cut from the same cloth, the two of them.

The lioness considered bringing up another ability she discovered. She knew the Roar she made towards that cloud caused a monsoon that had apparently affected the Outlands as much as the Pridelands, but it was something else that she could’ve sworn happened as a result. She’d remembered her encounter with what she could’ve sworn was her mother’s spirit, but she’d never seen it, since. It felt too crazy to bring up.

Vitani idly glanced up at other faded paintings, “Wish I could tell Kion about it. What it all might mean. What he doesn’t yet know the Roar can do…”

_________

Kiara stopped at the edge of the Pridelands, just before the river that bordered the neighboring Outlands.

Zira’s spirit within the future Queen remembered this river, looking beyond it as she continued her plan: She wanted to see just how far her living, earth-dwelling disguise could get her without any suspicion. She would feign a visit to the land of her and Kion’s little hyena friend… What was her name? 

“Kiara!” called a male voice. 

Zira knew that voice all too well. Barely hiding her annoyed scowl, she made Kiara’s head turn to the noise. 

It was Kovu, her living son. The one that turned on her.

“Kiara, where are you going?”

“The Outlands.”

“But, your parent –”

“I’m a grown lioness. Can’t a Future Queen visit her friend?”

Kiara’s tone was uncharacteristic, and oddly familiar to Kovu. The exact inflection sounded like something that followed his brother Nuka saying something stupid.

“Look, I’d be happy to escort you, if it’s possible.” he said awkwardly, feeling himself getting figuratively smaller.

“I’ll be fine, Kovu. If they ask, tell them I’m not far.”

She stepped forward to continue her trek, but not before stealing one last bitter scowl. 

“Weeeiird…” Kovu drawled to himself, out of earshot of his fiancee.

Kovu didn’t know what he did, but the look she gave him felt personal. He didn’t understand Kiara’s new attitude. He had to wonder if it was a lioness thing…

_________

Later, at Udaka Caverns…

“...And here we have ancient lions performing some kind of ritual with these snakes. These lions gave themselves marks over their eyes, a lot like the one your leader gave me.” Kiume smirked, “Guess her little overreaction had some kinda spiritual meaning in the end, heh…”

Shabaha and Tazama seemed intrigued enough, but Kasi and Imara seemed less than impressed, just about having it with Kiume’s know-nothing-know-it-all narration regarding these paintings scattered across the walls.

“Had no idea any of this was here…” Tazama muttered, “Never seen this in any of my reconnaissance missions.”

Kiume scoffed, “You seriously haven’t been to this part of the Outlands? You guys grew up in the Outlands, right?”

“Not us, personally. No.” Tazama answered, “Zira never really let anyone go beyond the Termite Mounds. Vitani might have, though…”

“Yeah,” Shabaha added, “she was with Zira when the pride tried to take over some watering hole the hyenas were taking up. The four of us didn’t show up until a little after.”

“Ever since that plan failed, she didn’t want us to blow the pride’s cover. Had to lie low until Kovu was ready.” said Kasi, allowing herself to add onto the conversation.

“Ready for what?” asked the maneless lion, almost in a scoffing manner.

“To take his place as King of the Pridelands.” Imara bluntly added. She’d hesitated to chime in for much of the time, uncomfortable with sharing so much with a lion who’d just been broken out of prison. 

“Not in the way you think, though…” Shabaha clarified, “We all tried to overthrow Simba and his family. Kiiiinda like you tried to. Funny how things just come full circle, huh?”

The rest of the Guard frowned, not ready for Shabaha to skip so far ahead and say something borderline controversial. However, they still faulted their own selves for even starting to tell Kiume anything.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” the male nodded, “Guess we have a bit in common, the lot of us.”

The Guard collectively sucked in air through their teeth, feeling unfavorably compared with their most recent sworn enemy.

“What I mean is that… I wanna get better. Like you guys.”

“Yeah, right.” Shabaha rolled her eyes.

“No, really. After getting to know you guys, I haven’t really felt the need to put up so many walls.” the male nodded to himself, “I wanna do what I can to make up with the Royal Family.

“That had better be the reason you’re doing all this,” Imara grunted, “and you’re sure you’re taking us to the right place?”

“Absolutely.” his voice echoed a bit. “I know this part of the Outlands very well. Guiding you all through the Outlands is my way of showing gratitude, which is the first step to making up for my actions towards the rest of the pride.”

The Guard exchanged looks, unable to make out what exactly they found baffling about what Kiume had just said. It’s like he’d made up his own rules of how to be good right on the spot. Their already low confidence in him guiding them through Udaka Caverns was declining. The looks they’d given each other were a silent agreement to stay wary of the male lion.

Pretty soon, all the lions found themselves making an abrupt halt, with the maneless lion gesturing left to a dark, twisted cave. They followed him through the confusing maze. Pretty soon, the light at the end was illuminated by natural blue light, and the orange glow of lava.

“Our next stop.” Kiume smiled. “We’re close to Vitani, I bet.”

The Guard looked deep into the cave that Kiume pointed to with his head. They all promptly exchanged looks of awe at what was inside.

What stood before them was bizarre, to say the least. A large formation had stuck out among the thousands of stalactites and stalagmites that spiked the entrance. Three large lumps of an unknown substance were the centerpiece of the cave.

The maneless lion puffed out his chest, “Passers-by call this section of Udaka Caverns, ‘The Cave of Eternal Roars’.” 

“Yeah, that sounds like a good place to be.” Shabaha quipped.

Kasi scoffed, “What animal is passing by here?”

“Maybe bats?” the Keenest of Sight guessed, “Usiku’s colony lives in these Caverns. But… I don’t think I’ve heard him mention it.”

Imara hunched slightly to whisper in Tazama’s ear, “I think Kiume just came up with it to be cool. I wouldn’t be too sure about everything he’s saying.”

Kiume cocked an eyebrow, overhearing the Strongest. His expression became blank and disinterested. He watched as the Lion Guard inched closer to the three large lumps.

Kasi tilted her head, “Y’know, these look a lot like the Termite Mounds we had at our old home.”

“Mm-hmm.” Kiume hummed, less than enthused.

“Can’t be,” Tazama inspected, “couldn’t survive being housed with constant lavaflow.”

“Would have to be igneous rock, then.” Imara said, gently taking a claw to the cave walls she figured were the same substance, “Would explain the perforated surface.”

“If it sticks to my tongue, then it’s definitely igneous rock.” Shabaha piped.

“You just want to lick just about every new thing you see, huh?” Kasi muttered.

Kiume chuckled, mostly under his breath. The ladies were funny, and he was admittedly remorseful to not see that before. 

He ducked as he turned for another cave, scouting for the next turn. Unnoticed by the Guard, he disappeared into the pitch blackness.

Once Shabaha was closer, she began to notice more and more details. This thing definitely had a mouth, and eyes, and what looked like a large mane.

“Hey, these look a lot like lions!”

The rest of the Guard got closer, too.

Imara squinted, “These formations can’t be natural. It’s too uncanny.”

“Yeah…” Kasi rubbed her shoulder nervously, “uncanny…”

“Could they be sculptures?” Imara wondered.

“Like, sculpted by a Royal Mjuzi? Guess one of the Mjuzis from the past got sick of the whole painting tradition.” Kasi quipped.

Mjuzi… Tazama remembered that Kiume had been showing them paintings all throughout the caverns. Her eyes focused on the walls for any paintings that could explain what they were seeing.

“Hiyo Kali!” she exclaimed, “I think this is our answer!”

Kasi and Imara turned their attention to the Keenest of Sight. She stood at a rather faded painting on an adjacent wall to the cave entrance. It showed a red-maned lion roaring towards a volcano with animals running away from it. Next to that were three dark brown lions with red eyes falling into a crevasse.

“Is that Askari?” Kasi’s brows furrowed.

“Who are those guys?” Imara asked.

“I wish I knew. If I’m not mistaken, that yellow splotch up there would be the Mark of Evil, but I’m not sure…” said the Keenest of Sight.

Hearing the Bravest chuckle behind her, Imara glanced back at Shabaha. 

“Hey, don’t lick that.”

“I wasn’t!” Shabaha put her tongue away, “I was just gonna give him a boop. Boop!”

Shabaha promptly poked the largest lion figure on the nose. Just then, the delicate surface began to crack. Pretty soon, a good chunk of it had crumbled away, revealing the very recognizable skull of a lion. As the natural casting of the lion’s fossils broke away, the well-preserved bones began to fall to the ground.

“OOOOKAY –” Shabaha yelped before leaping back, horrified.

The rest of the Lion Guard had also begun to freak out. 

“Hell, no!” Imara bellowed.

“What the –?” Kasi looked back at the wall and saw a third painting.

The three lions were pictured surrounded by a radiant shape, one that looked much like the mouth of the cave they were at. Above the three lions was what looked like an illustration of orange liquid flowing over them.

“Lava…” Tazama figured.

“Kiume, are these the Evil Lions of the Past?” Kasi turned to where she last saw him, “Kiume…?”

Just then, a large boulder dropped into the lavabank in front of them. They leapt back before droplets could hit them. They all looked up at the source.

“They are, indeed.” said a male voice.

Above them stood Kiume, who sat just outside the natural skylight that illuminated the cave. His paw rested on another boulder.

“Though, ‘evil’ is a little extreme of a word for those lions. They were just doing their jobs as lions, but… you and all the Lion Guards that came during and after Askari’s time didn’t like the order of things. So, Askari murdered them in the most gruesome way possible. Like what’s happening to you. Funny how things just come full circle, huh?”

Shabaha scowled as her own words were thrown back at her, but no one scowled with as much sheer fury as Imara had.

“I knew it!” the Strongest roared. 

“Kiume! What have you done?!” Kasi yelled upwards.

“I’ve done the Pridelands justice!” he roared, “I’m taking it over, with or without my boys! And I’m not worried about your little Leader, even if she did find you, she’ll be too devastated and powerless without you to go after me.”

“Look out!” shouted Tazama.

The other boulder made its way down. This time, closing off the cave entrance. The lionesses all noticed the pool’s levels beginning to rise. Their eyes traced the flow back to fresh magma that poured from holes in the walls, in which said walls were now perforated from the violent vibrations of the boulder’s impact. They backed away from the lavabank to the coolest part of the stone surface they stood on.

Looking up, they saw the maneless lion push the largest boulder above ground to close off the skylight.

They were completely trapped.

Kiume rose above the surface in hopes of seeing Pride Rock, only to instead find the forepaws of a lioness standing at the edge he used as leverage. Glancing up, he realized he had a rather unexpected guest.

“Kiara,” he smirked, “What a surprise to see you out here. With no escorts, for once, I might add. Quite the achievement. Out here, all alone, defenseless. It’s perfect. Simba will have to trade his leadership to me if I got you as a bargaining chip.”

“We’re truly alone?” Kiara glanced around to make sure, “Perfect, indeed.”

Just as Kiume went to grab Kiara’s shoulder, something felt odd. He felt a pulling sensation in his paw. He looked up at Kiara to see what was going on, only to see her eyes glowing a ghastly cyan.

He heard the Princess make a cackle unlike any laugh she’d ever made just before grabbing his muzzle.

Pretty soon, the rest of his body felt weaker, and like it had been emptying. Rapidly.

The maneless lion tried to scream, but his mouth was covered with a clamped paw.

Pretty soon, his attempts to scream were replaced with a dry groan.

A loud thud echoed across the empty valley.

Vitani and Jasiri finally walked out of the arena. Muttering amongst themselves the revelations they had about their newly-made discoveries of the Outlands’ history.

Despite the two each spending their earliest years growing up in the land, neither knew that it was once a functioning society with its own system. A rather corrupt one, but Jasiri had learned that she had not been the only animal to have become the Outlands’ official leader.

“Jasiri! Jasiri!!” a voice yelled.

“Janja!” the Prime Minister responded, “What’s going on?!”

“Some kinda jailbreak is what’s goin’ on.” he said, “Kiume’s been freed!”

“What?!” Jasiri threw her head back.

“Yeah, and we was attacked by her Lion Guard!” he glared at Vitani. The rest of the clan growled at the lioness.

“What?” Vitani was appalled, “They would never do that…”

“Vitani…” Jasiri turned to her new friend, “I thought you were starting to trust us…”

“I…” the Fiercest tried to speak.

“I think they’re the ones who broke Kiume out of his cell, too!” Janja snorted.

“Could they have followed him?” Jasiri wondered.

“Followed him?” Vitani balked, “Are they out of their minds?!”

Suddenly, the Fiercest could hear voices from inside the caverns she and the hyenas stood just outside of. The voices were shouting, struggling, and arguing, all in a way only Vitani would recognize.

She booked it. Whether the hyenas were to follow along or not, it didn’t matter to her. She didn’t care what they thought of her, anymore. She just needed to find her friends.

Pretty soon, by Jasiri’s lead, the hyenas did follow suit. All except one.

The Prime Minister noticed Janja wasn’t running with her. She slowed down and looked back.

"You were right, Jasiri. We are all the same. The same, no-good, evil hyenas. That's all everyone thinks we are..."

“Janja…” Jasiri sighed, “It was a misunderstanding. It… It has to be.”

“They’d rather follow a bad lion than let a hyena even breathe in their direction! If anyone’s ‘misunderstanding’, it’s me with whatever’s goin’ on, here.”

“I’ve been with Vitani long enough to get a good read on what kind of lion she is, and what I see is someone who wants to change, along with her friends. Like a certain hyena I know.” 

“Whuh? Who?”

She rolled her eyes, still loving Janja’s clueless side.

“I’ll be with you the whole time.”

“Hnnggh, alright...” he groaned, cracking the slightest smile.

_________

In the cave, the Guard continued tirelessly to look for an escape to no avail. Imara tried to push the large boulder on the ground away, Kasi tried to climb out with her nimble skills, and all even tried to assemble steps with the hope of escaping through the ceiling, but the effort to remove the boulder above them would prove to be dangerous, if not null due to its impossible heaviness. Nothing would make the lava stop rising.

They all stopped in their tracks to look at each other for the longest time, finding themselves sobbing. They approached each other, nuzzling and embracing tightly, not knowing what else to do.

They all started to recall their days as cubs. Meeting each other on the way to the paradise animals called the ‘Pridelands’, bantering and playing as they aged following the recommended path from the Namib Desert to the Serengeti. Just before they could reach the land, however, Zira intercepted them in the Outlands as they’d passed by, and told them her twisted narrative she’d dedicated years to crafting. 

Growing up, the four believed Zira was the rightful Queen consort, Kovu was Scar’s heir as King, and Vitani, Kovu’s protector and enforcer – whom the Guard took a particular interest in as their friend and leader for most of their lives – were wrongfully ousted from their kingdom, and needed as much help as possible from the army of Outsiders that grew over time, including them and their unique strengths.

Then they found their place in the Pridelands, once lost and without purpose until Vitani showed them the way. That day, they formed their own Lion Guard, a Lion Guard who was now about to perish looking for their leader and best friend…

“...Guys?” said a familiar voice behind a wall.

Their hearts dropped as they turned to the wall they heard the voice from. Could it be…?

“Vitani!” Shabaha shouted.

“Guys!” Vitani shouted back, “Shabaha! Is that you?!”

“Yeah!” the Bravest cackled in shock and disbelief.

“Vitani?” the rest of the Guard each said, astonished.

“I can move this wall with my Roar.”

“No,” Kasi said from the wall, “you can’t. Lava will pour out!”

“The only way out is up.” Imara added, “There’s a boulder on top of the cave. You gotta wedge it out.”

“Got it. Hold on!” Vitani turned to the hyenas, “Everyone, follow me. You don’t want to be caught up in a lava wave.”

The hyenas followed Vitani out of Udaka Caverns, racing to the top.

“...’Everyone?’” Kasi asked the rest of the Guard.

Just then, a rumble could be heard from the cave. Vitani used the Roar to carefully lift the large boulder that acted as a lid. Janja and his hyenas instinctually ducked and held unto the ground for dear life, remembering their fair share of being Roared at. The Fiercest peeked down below, horrified at the peril her friends were in.

The Guard stared back up at Vitani, noticing she was surrounded by hyenas.

“Oh, I see.” the Fastest muttered.

“I don’t think I know how to lift animals like Kion can, yet.” the Fiercest said to Jasiri with growing panic.

As Vitani and Jasiri tried to devise a plan, Janja stared into the cave below as it rapidly filled with lava. Scowling at the Guard for their unfair treatment of hyenas. Every swipe and kick he received from them came back to him as he looked them all in the eyes.

He’d remembered the day he trapped Jasiri and two very young cubs from her clan in a large geyser. He’d been completely under Scar’s control around that time, believing he needed to eliminate any force that had a hold on him that wasn’t Scar. He would either confess his feelings to Jasiri and join her side, or she would never be an obstacle in his life again.

But… he was a good hyena, now, and knew that he would have deeply regretted seeing what would have come with winning his fight with Jasiri that day, if it wouldn’t have rendered him into a cold and heartless killer. 

He resented the actions of Vitani’s Lion Guard that occurred earlier today, but he was not about to let another animal suffer the terror of impending death by molten lava. He reached down and held out a paw for any of the four lionesses to grab.

“Come on boys! Let’s help ‘em up!” he grunted.

The ragtag team of male hyenas followed his order. Groups of two or three hyenas each made an effort to pull the lionesses to safety.

Vitani stared wide-eyed at the hyenas, impressed. “That’ll work.”

She and Jasiri promptly helped the rest carry the Guard out.

Once above ground, all of the lionesses pressed against each other in relief. Happy to see each other again. The affectionate gesture was very uncharacteristic and rare, but very much needed.

“I don’t see Kiume with you.” Vitani looked around.

“No,” Kasi said, “he’s the one who trapped us down there.”

“The bastard!” Vitani hissed, “Could be anywhere, by now.”

Suddenly, they all heard a rumble below. The section of the cavern began to close in on itself. They all leapt out of the way before the ground gave way.

Udaka Caverns permanently changed that day. Half of its ceiling was gone, with its debris dropping into the lava below, cutting off its flow.

Lucky for them, for what was also underground was very unexpected. In another section that could be seen overhead were Rafiki and Makini, who sat by a painting on the wall. The conversations that the two mandrills nonchalantly had while not noticing the commotion around them had finally been disrupted.

Both parties stared awkwardly for a long time, still reeling from the near-death experience. Soon, the two mandrills released themselves from the embrace they made to shield each other from debris.

“Lion Guard! No way!” Makini beamed, “Come look at these paintings! We wanted to tell you about them all day!”

“Umm… One second.” Vitani quickly turned to her Lion Guard and the hyenas, “Kiume… He’s on the loose.”

“Don’t sweat it, Vitani.” Janja said, “We’ll take it from here!”

“Please, Janja, at least let my Guard and I repay your clan by helping you.”

“Nah, you go on.” he insisted, “Sounds pretty important if Rafiki’s callin’ you. Come on, boys!”

The hyenas bolted out of the cavern, ready to pursue the runaway convict.

Unbeknownst to them, they’d dashed past Kiara, who had been hiding under the shade of a rocky protrusion. As they left her sight for Insika Canyon, she slid out from her hiding place, heading towards somewhere to listen in on the Lion Guard.

“Did… you two make all the paintings we’ve been looking at all day?” Vitani asked.

“Us?” Makini chuckled, “Oh, no. We’re restoring them!”

“Yes.” said Rafiki, “We are restoring them to how they looked before they were weathered by generations of the Outlands’ elements. The paintings you see in the Outlands were all originally made by past Mjuzis. Most were made by the Mjuzi of Askari’s day, except for the ones on this wall.”

The Lion Guard and Jasiri all turned to the series of images. There were many small paintings of a particular lion in different stages of his life, showing significant events: One was of a much younger him in a hunched and saddened position, the other with him receiving bite from a cobra, and one with him turned away from Pride Rock. What stood out the most, however, was a large effigy of him sitting under the Mark of Evil symbol, holding a bluish-black cobra, and looming over an emphasized depiction of a cub with a familiar head stripe.

“When Makini showed me a painting Vitani had made of her visions last night, I recognized the lion with a red mane and a Mark of Evil over his right eye. 

“Recently, I felt a spiritual connection draw me towards the Outlands, and I had found these paintings as a result. I found myself dearly missing my mentor – the one who created the paintings of this lion, here. She called him: Nyoka… 

“Nyoka was a despicable lion who had been banished before Mufasa and Scar were ever born, as he gave into the venom that controlled his mind, much like the evil lions from Askari’s time. He resided right here, in this very part of the Outlands, where my mentor would see sightings of him while she studied older paintings in her free time.

“He is the lion responsible for giving Scar his very own Mark of Evil.”

“What…?” a few members of the Guard muttered.

Watching them from above, Zira’s spirit, still taking over Kiara, was also shocked.

‘What?’ she thought, ‘But, Scar told me his father gave it to him! That mandrill couldn’t possibly be telling the truth!’

“Hold on,” Shabaha interjected, “who’s that cub under him? It looks like Zira.”

“Correct.” Rafiki confirmed, “Nyoka is Zira’s father.”

Vitani’s jaw dropped. Her grandfather… She saw her grandfather in her vision of the past…

Mother never spoke of him, and yet Vitani got to see him for herself. The old mandrill then continued.

“After receiving his Mark of Evil, Zira’s father tried to finish what his ancestors started. His first step was to contact them, but my mentor would not let him have her Staff. He instead entrusted his daughter to help him form a new plan…”

Vitani began to feel numb, Rafiki’s voice becoming incoherent muffling. She stepped closer to the wall, and began to mindlessly run a paw down it, realizing the family resemblance, which became clearer and clearer.

Her mother’s prejudice towards hyenas, her supremacist teachings, and her love for Scar and desire to rule the Pridelands all made sense, now. 

“I’m… a descendant of the Evil Lions of the Past…”

The Lion Guard, Jasiri, and Makini all gasped, having not thought of it that way before, now that Vitani had put it that way.

The Fiercest growled, “That’s why I can’t hear the Great Lions of the Past, because I descend from the other side of the conflict with Askari – the wrong side! I can never escape my destiny.”

“Vitani,” Jasiri placed a paw on Vitani’s shoulder, “you are so much more than your ancestors. You gave hyenas a chance on your own. And before you say anything about it – Yes, you have the Roar for a reason. You saved your friends with it. You’ve saved many animals with it. You’re a hero of the Pridelands and the Outlands.”

Vitani eased her tense body, “I guess so. Thank you, Jasiri. You’ve been nothing but supportive today, and… I appreciate it.”

‘So… my own daughter thinks I’m evil…’ Zira thought, ‘And here we have that little hyena softening her up and reinforcing why I’m the bad guy. Vitani wants to see ‘evil’? I’ll show her ‘evil’... I’ll show them ALL!’

She quickly disguised her fury with a cold, calculative attitude, carefully slinking away from the open ceiling of the caverns, slipping into the shadows, unseen by any creature of the Outlands as she made her return to Pride Rock.

_________

Later That Evening…

After hours of sharing stories and showing each other the paintings that were scattered across the Arena to Udaka Caverns, the Lion Guard, Jasiri, and two mandrills ascended to the ground. They were heading home, prepared to share their newfound knowledge of the Outlands’ history. History that changed the way they viewed the land, forever. A place filled with centuries-old mysteries of the desolation of the land, and the morbid deaths that had taken place, giving the place a reputation as a curse-riddled wasteland.

They were now in Insika Canyons, which had a thick fog uncharacteristic of the region. They looked around, all mutually unsettled by their surroundings.

“Do you think the hyenas found Kiume, yet?” Kasi wondered.

“Yeah,” Imara agreed, “you’d think we might’ve heard something –”

Just then, the entire group heard a garbled noise nearby. The fog cleared a bit, revealing something that lay on the ground. Vitani, who’d approached first, was horrified at what she saw.

It was her old enemy, for sure. But he’d been almost half the size he was, horribly gaunt with a severely cracked nose and lips. He looked like he had the life sucked out of him with how dehydrated he looked.

“Kiume…?” the Firecest said, stopped in her tracks, “What happened to you? Who did this?”

The maneless lion slowly turned his head, spending nearly all of his energy making the slightest move.

“The P-Princess… Sh-She…” he groaned dryly.

“She what?” Vitani was urgent, “Is she okay?”

He tried to speak once more, but could only manage a few squeaks before his head abruptly dropped back to the ground, his face fixed in a permanent expression.

Vitani stepped back a bit, looking back at everyone standing behind her.

Kiume was dead.

“The Princess?” Kasi balked, “What did Kiara have to do with this?”

“Even in death he’s blaming lionesses for his problems…” Shabaha shook her head.

Vitani wanted to silence Shabaha’s remark, but felt herself starting to see the lack of logic. No way the King and Queen would have let Kiara get this far out here.

“Still, we have to go.” the Fiercest turned back to the lion’s corpse, “What are we gonna do about – ?”

“Don’t worry, Vitani.” Jasiri sighed with a heavy heart and head, “The Outlanders will take care of it. You should just worry about heading home.”

“Thank you, Jasiri.” Vitani gave a nod, “For everything…”

The Guard, Rafiki, and Makini watched as vultures circled above where Kiume stood. The rest of the hyenas gathered by Jasiri, discussing the issue. The group hurried the direction of Pride Rock.

_________

By nightfall, the King and Queen were told everything; the Outlands’ literal unearthed history, and of Kiume’s sudden, unexplained death, and what was to be done about the latter.

Kiara had already been checked on by the Guard. She had appeared to be peacefully sleeping, making the Guard deem it unlikely that she had interacted at all with Kiume, today.

Vitani listened to Rafiki, Simba, and Nala discuss amongst themselves from outside Pride Rock. She sat at the edge, disturbed by the day’s events.

Vitani felt an ache in her chest. Aside from Kiume’s disturbing death, her mind kept repeating the revelations she’d had about her family today.

The Mark of Evil was the cause of a chain of events: From her deranged ancestors to her grandfather, who, outside of Scar, made her mother the way she was, and all of that being why she involved her children in a needless war between prides and species. It seemed that every generation of her family was cursed by the actions of her ancestors, and that she and her brothers had been shaped up to carry on that legacy.

And poor Nuka… she now knew why his spirit was made of fire. The Great Lions spoke to him, but, he never joined them. She wondered if Nuka would ever belong anywhere.

The old mandrill, having finished his conversation with Simba and Nala, hobbled out of Pride Rock, noticing the Leader of the Lion Guard in deep thought. He sat beside her.

“Rafiki…” the lioness turned to him, “is there a way I could put an end to this family curse? Being unable to talk to the Great Lions, your brother being a fire spirit like Scar and other Evil Lions. I wanted to have a purpose as a Pridelander, and I thought I found it, but I really don’t know what I’m doing.”

The mention of Nuka’s spirit had reminded the mandrill of something.

He held out his hands, “Sometimes, sacrifices must be made in order to do good…”

One year ago, at the Elephant Graveyard…

The old mandrill sat on a high ledge as he watched the Leader of the Lion Guard pant heavily – her claws gripping the ground tightly with rage and heartache. In order to keep up with her, the mandrill had swiftly and diligently bounded after her, but with an alternate path to keep from being noticed.

He could hear Vitani’s cries for her older brother, among her grievances regarding everything else that had gone wrong and out of her control. His brows furrowed just before he closed his eyes.

It was time…

Rafiki gripped his Bakora Staff tightly one last time, gently pressing his forehead to it affectionately, silently thanking it for its many years of a very special and one-of-a-kind connection to the Lions of the Past. Even the memories of its more mundane uses, and the instantly recognizable rattling of its gourds had tugged at his heart.

With a careful and quiet hand, he dropped the sacred tool into a large geyser. The Staff caught fire as it sank into the molten liquid inside.

The now former Mjuzi leapt off the ledge and out of Vitani’s sight, just before she unleashed the powerful Roar that sent every geyser around her gushing with glowing steam, which would end up being the final step to summoning her brother, who to this day had manifested in flames upon being summoned.

Although he could no longer connect to the Lions of the Past any longer, Rafiki still remained spiritual.

“When I saw you in need of spiritual guidance, I had to help you summon the one relative I knew that you knew.” he said.

“Well, it just figures that Nuka is made of fire.” Vitani scoffed, “He’s also a descendant of Askari’s enemies.”

“Nuka is in limbo.” Rafiki corrected her, “He is pulled between two forces. He takes on the form of what he’s been summoned in, and he hears the voices of not only the Great Lions, but, if he’s not careful, he could hear the Evil Lions, too. But, he has you keeping him on the right path.”

“He needs to be freed from that tug...” Vitani muttered. She stiffened, suddenly getting an idea.

She realized what she must do: She must stop the cycle with a sacrifice of her very own. She was ready to relinquish her Fire Roar, and to free Nuka’s spirit with forgiveness from herself and Kovu, like Kion with Scar’s spirit. 

She could see that she was holding onto Nuka for far too long, and that keeping his spirit tied down where there was nonstop rain was making him suffer. 

She would head to bed with countless thoughts of enlightenment racing in her head, preparing for tomorrow morning when she would catch Kovu and finally show him what she had been hiding from the Royal family all this time.

To Be Continued…

_________

Author's Notes:

The petrified Evil Lions of the Past and the Cave of Eternal Roars is based on the plaster castings of the citizens of Pompeii, as well as the terracotta army found in Emperor Qin's underground tomb, respectively paralleling the result of a volcanic disaster as well as serving the purpose of freezing the feared army of a powerful emperor in time. I've always been fascinated by both historical sites due to their perfect preservation, and the rollercoaster of implications and historical context that can clearly be told by looking at them.

Udaka Caverns is what I call the location that the Lions Over All musical number took place in TLG. "Udaka" is Zulu for "lava"/"mud"/"muck").

Insika Canyon is what I call the region of Janja's clan's old home. I noticed their home was comprised of pillar-like earth structures, which are called hoodoos. "Insika" is Zulu for "pillar".

Zira's confusion over Scar's origin story is a jab at multiple sources, be it Disney, licensed by Disney, or long-established fanon, which all tell incredibly different storie on how he got his scar.

In older drafts of Mystery of the Outlands, the original plot was to be that Vitani and the Guard would be called to the Outlands by Janja and Jasiri, who need help finding Wema and Tunu, who at some point trap the Lion Guard in the cave as they still feel residual distrust for lions. Once I started thinking about bringing Kiume back into VG, I started running out of room and interest for the Wema and Tunu plot. I also thought it was just a little extreme for Wema and Tunu to be like that. I instead relegated their appearances in the form of a cameo.

Artist Notes:

Kiume's ear tufts in the first thumbnail are deliberately curved inwards to resemble devil horns, showing his true nature.

The composition of the cave painting of Nyoka (AKA Strange Lion), Zira, and the Evil Lions of the Past is kind of my twisted take on icon wall paintings found in churches. Figured the parodied art form would be fitting for someone with a divine complex like Nyoka.

The last image in Rafiki's flashback sequence is mostly comprised of reused assets from the file I used for Episode 5: The Summoning, not only to make drawing a lot easier, but to illustrate just when the flashback takes place. I had backgrounds and props that I'd already painted almost three years ago. I had to reinstall GIMP on my new laptop just to get access to my XCF files and move the images to Photoshop (what I use now).

The amount of illustrations/chapter thumbnails made within a short time are a new record: Only 8 days to create all of them, completed on March 24th. The main cause for delay was the writing and trying to make sense of the story with as much detail as possible with the hope of preventing any possible plotholes.

[tired-lamb]

do you ever think about bunga and kion?

do you ever think about the fact that they’ve been friends since they were babies, did almost everything together, were practically brothers, and how their friendship was the entire reason kion got the roar of the elders? how kion’s brotherly love for bunga was so strong that it managed to bring back the roar of the elders? how kion being the fiercest originated from his fierce love for bunga? do you ever think about how bunga was so ready to support the lion guard, even if he wasn’t in it? how bunga would have given his all to a group that might not have included him, just because it included kion? his best friend? his brother? do you ever think about how this closeness faded as they grew, as kion’s responsibilities increased, as the burden on kion’s shoulders began to weigh heavier and heavier, while bunga was still stuck in their childhood? while bunga thought the entire time that the both of them were still stuck in their childhood? do you ever think about how bunga felt when he realised the distance that had grown between him and kion? how guilty he must have felt when he realised, all this time, that kion was hurting? how he tried his best to cheer him up, make jokes and laugh like they used to, only to realise that kion’s laughter had been tinged with a sadness that had come in a long, long time ago? do you ever think about how kion, in so much pain, didn’t even realise the distance that had grown between him and bunga? do you ever think about how despite this distance, bunga said, “and just so you know, even if you turn evil, I’ll still be your best friend”? how despite the distance that had grown between them, bunga was still willing to support kion just as he had been when he first got the roar? how bunga would always be there for kion, evil or not? how out of the entire lion guard, bunga was the one who always believed kion could do anything?

do you ever think about kion and bunga?

[1218-814]

Twst Loop Theories/Analyses … (Mostly of Leona Oji-tan's)

Savannaclaw’s the deepest and most mysterious theory I have translated tbh... 

This time it’s ALL of the people that are from the Savannaclaw Arc (Even Cheka!)

Jokes on you if you haven't dissected the op like I have. We (as players) have made a contract with Azul :3

Leona is an important person in the Loop Theory, aka Rapunzel theory. And one way is by looking at his hair.

Leona’s hair is brown, unlike Scar’s black mane. Most characters have a main villain base and other characters as a sub-base. Leona’s is Scar main and possibly Kion as a sub base. (more on that later in the bottom) But a lot of characters have more than 2 bases so what if the base is in his looks? 

Leona’s hair is brown with braids. So, in the Disney’s franchise there's only one specific person, or princess that would fit this description. Rapunzel. These two have a lot in common if you look for them.

Leona is 20. Rapunzel is 20 by the 3rd season of the TV series.

Like I said, looks Rapunzel did have brown hair as well as green eyes. When she has long hair in the tv series, she did braid her hair sometimes. But in the end she did cut her hair again, like in the end of the movie. So Leona might cut his hair in the end. (I will miss his hair)

The Fairy Gala had lilies in Leona’s SSR. In the movie, there are similar lilies when Rapunzel gets out of her tower.

And the buddies of his card are the light trio, Rook, Silver, and Kalim. All three of them have a part that is based off of the ‘good’ characters.

His tarot card is the tower; if the tarot card theory is true, then it does fit in with the description. Especially the part that Rapunzel was trapped inside a tower. In the story Leona (Rapunzel) is trapped in the tower (NRC)

Both of them also share a similar power (kind of not but). Rapunzel has a power that is called the “sun drop”- it came from the sundrop flower. The power of the “Sun Drop” can help slow down aging, heal, and as well as recover what was once lost. Leona’s power is King's Roar. His power “dries up the opponent and turns everything into sand”. (I don't fully believe it because of my last post but this is this) We are going to assume “in the end” it will become sand.

In the world of Rapunzel. There is a stone called the “Moonstone Opal”. This stone is the exact opposite of the “Sun Drop”, and it- kills and takes away life. In the 14th episode of season 2, Rapunzel finds an old scroll and chants the “Reverse Inaction”; it makes the animals decay and the people around hard to breathe. This was only the first half of the lyrics so the power of destruction was probably not complete. Half of the lyrics can kill, but unlike Leona’s power, it can’t fully destroy the shape.

Cassandra, the daughter of Gothel, did use the powers (her hair and eyes became different) and if she touched anything they would decay; like Leona’s powers of drying the things he touched after using “Kings Roar”. And in the end of season 3 Rapunzel did absorb part of the Moonstone Opal’s powers. 

So what will Leona do in the story? If you look at the prologue 0-0 in the end title you’ll notice it either

turns to sand 

or the fire went out.

In the movie of Rupunzle the antagonist, Mother Gothel (Evil Queen is the motif), and in the end, she loses the power of Rapunzel’s hair and drops from the tower and becomes dust leaving her robe behind. I did say this before of him being “The Tower” card. But what if in the end... He uses his magic and makes the person/thing Crowley revived into sand?

(Personally I think there's a chairman or someone that Crowley will revive. Mallenoa? IDK, there's a person or something I think)

But before the soul disappears, Crowley flies into the mirror and uses his magic to rewind time, which is what might happened, and he tries to find his “Happy ending”

But Leona doesn’t lose his memory, and the Messiah, Lilia, is probably the one who knows and is teaming up secretly. It was especially suspicious when Leona purposely overblotted, which I think, was because of Lilia’s words....

It would make sense if it was the fire going out, because it can also ties in with Rapunzel. Leona is probably going to break the loop with MC. 

I did say that Leona does have chess pieces in his room that tie in with the Light trio. (below)

Rook: Rook Hunt’s name

Knight: Silver thinks he has a talent for a sword and “silver sword”. Also Malleus’s knight

Pawn: Kalim is a pawn to Jamil (He tried to use him to become King in the movie and in the arc)

Also, Leona would be the “king” chess piece 

And Leona’s best subject is “ancient curses”, like Rapunzel he can use harmful ones, like his unique magic too. What if he knows a spell that can “go back in the past? 

If he did It would make sense why his memories aren’t lost. So in conclusion Leona is the Rapunzel trapped in the tower called “Twisted Wonderland”

But other than the pieces what gave away that he is the traveler? 

Something with Azul’s contracts and the scar on his eye is still not clear. But, first let’s look at his name.

Kingscholar can be seprated into King (ruler) and Scholar (a specialist in a branch of study). Scholars usually point to social sciences, or humanities. These branches of study study the human values and how they express the feelings; they require knowledge from phycology to history. If the word “scholar” is in his name, then it can be reasoable to think that he may be “observing and analyzing a person or a thing” 

Leona’s best subject is “ancient curses”, and he is good at protection spells as well as pharmacy (the study of medication). Those do require a lot of knowledge to be good at. Why would he need to repeat the grade if he is so smart?

On Youtube (とろちゃんねる), Leona broke the loop in between his second year and third year. 

In the 4th arc, Mickey’s third remark in the dream is the reason the number “3″ is really weird, almost incompatible.

Leona is 20 he’s in his third year for the third time (if the loop theory is true). If I am correct then the time MC came is when the “3″s (triple)overlapped. He also asked how many stones Grimm ate after the third arc.

This is where Jack’s origin comes in. Jack most likely originated from the author of “White Fang” (Jack London), but there’s more. In my other theory, I said that the MC’s body is not there, that Jack may be referenced from the TV show of the Lion King, Lion Gard’s, Ray-ray. In the show, they defeat Scar, who died and came back to life. Maybe this is also a clue...

In a personal talk, Savannaclaw was talking about the King of Beasts (or whatever they called it). People usually thought “Oh, it's about Scar” but, it's not. It’s not Simba or Mufasa either. It's not Kion as well. If I summarize the traits of the king they were talking about then it becomes like this:

He ruled with his power and fangs, and rejected his older brother to become the king in an attempt to great a good country with wisdom and order to change the affiliation of the strong bullying the weak

The King of Beasts does not discriminate 

“The King of the sky that guides the stars” was called “firefly” and “Great King from the Past”

The nephew of the king was not at the king’s coordination ceremony (Leona and Jack’s conversation)

Leona’s scar on his eye and the King of Beast’s scare are the same. But, Leona avoided answering the question when Ruggie asked him when his scare was from. (Ruggie and Leona’s conversation)

The anecdote of the king; he can apperently talk to hippos, giraffes, lions, and monkeys. (Jack and Leona)

The hornbill, who served the royal family, noticed the change in the country and gave their opinion to the king of beasts infromed. The king is very considerate and king and listened to the opinions and advice. (Ruggie and Leona)

Most of it is describing Scar 

but 3,6,7 are far from matching him.

3 is taking about the “ The King of the sky that guides the stars”. This description is very fitting to “Roar of the Elders” from Lion Gard. Yes, there is a time where this kinda happened in the main story. (also Leona’s unique magic is referenced from “Roar of the Elders”

6. We do have a hippo friend in “Lion Gard”, but not any other animals in the original ones. (The giraffe is missing)

7. the Hornbill is Zazu from lion king, who does serve the royal family. He is present from the original “Lion King” and is with Kion in the show. Something seems off to my guts.

“Why are they favoring Kion?”, you may ask. But Kion and Scar have a trait they share. They are both second born. Also Kion’s roar becomes the strongest; there is a story when he got the cobra venom in his eye and became violent and couldn’t control his power. His scar is as the same as Leona and Scar’s left eye. In season three you see Kion with two lines as a scar on his eye.

In conclusion, what the Savannaclaw students were talking about is either “Kion” or “a lion other than Scar and Kion”.If it is Scar the King, number 1 explained, then the flow of the story is too convenient.  It’s also unclear if it is Kion as well; if it's the conversation after season 3 then I would have no idea. 

 The Key part is his Tattoo and Azul’s contract (Bet you didn’t see that coming) 

In “Lion Gard”, the guards all have a tatoo. Leona does have powers and has a tattoo on the same left arm (technically) as Kion. But unlike Kion’s, the tatoo is a different color. We’ve seen this shade of color. Yes, it’s the same as Azul’s ink. 

(Pull out Azul’s Dorm SSR, after Groovy)

We can’t read the contract, but Lin Channel (on YouTube) is doing gods work and translated into actual words (English cursive) it reads:

Contract:

I am wishing mate 

I wishes senior siring

nephew smiling

inwhere inway amaging waiting

winner winter welcoming

where wide whichever via where wiser anniversary

For all eternity (For all eternity is from the original “Little Mermaid”’s contract)

Let me explain how she’s doing the work, Google (yea, teachers) She looks up people’s hand writings and can conclude things (the long curve after “i” may be the ending “ing”) But, if I clear it up and make it normal English it would look like this:

I want a companion

I wish my brother and nephew a smile

I am ambushing and waiting

Anywhere in the place where

the winter of victory comes

This is just my thoughts, but “brother and nephew” may be Cheka and Leona’s brother, which would be reasonable why such a minor character like Cheka got voice acted. 

Winter could be meaning Hades, who kidnapped Persephone and made winter. So, maybe Idia could be the key to our victory here. And this would expain why Savannaclaw was between Ignihyde and Diasomnia 

Winter could also mean Cheka and Leona’s brother’s heart. They could be lonely (Grim asks Leona about his family, and Grim replies with “They must be lonely, being in a dark cold place” or something like that)

I’m sure that Leona made the contract for Cheka and his brother. He is the only character with a nephew. The tsun-dere side of Leona would explain why he didn’t want to tell anyone about what the contract is about.

Just by the contract and the loop theory we can tell that he is important. But what if he is not based off of Scar... But rather, Kion from “Lion Gard”? If I look into the original characters of what Leona is based off of, then I would forget about “Leona”. Yana Toboso is twisting our brain like that, such as in “Black Butler”, and maybe thats another reason why the game is called “Twisted Wonderland”

So what we all we know about Leona is:

Leona’s tattoo

he is aware of the loop or he is suspicious of the loop

Jack’s position (We don’t know as much as I would like about his power)

Cheka will appear again (he does get Voice acted, and maybe that’s what the second arc will be about. He also said something about having a fiancée so maybe an event?)  

Leona overblotted instead of Ruggie (my other theory)

I do think the tattoo may be made by Azul in the other loop, and he is aware of the loop or will remember of the loop because of the tattoo 

But it is Yana Toboso sensei so... I may be wrong~

~~~

Posting this after Leona's magic is aeration theory bc his unique magic makes no sense.

Multiverse or Azul theory next?

If you can comment that will be appreciated (likes and reblogs are appreciated.

I also wrote this 2 years ago

Idk if its right but I did make some changes :3

[blade-liger-4ever]

Something I've noticed that makes me liquid angry.

Queen Rani, leader of the Night Pride and ruler of the Tree of Life, wife of Prince Kion from The Lion Guard.

Her parents were killed in front of her right outside their home, which also resulted in her scar and deeply traumatized her.

For this she likely had to act maternal for her little brother, Baliyo, while finding other methods to cope with her own trauma.

Was forced to take up leadership of the Night Pride around the time Kion formed his Lion Guard, at least.

Was also being trained to become queen at the same time, while said territory was about three times the size of the Pride Lands and her grandmother, Queen Janna, was a hair's breath from death for years.

Thus she had much pressure on her from a young age, lots of trauma, and rightly founded convictions against allowing outsiders inside, especially if they were powerful individuals and not fleeing animals seeking sanctuary from clear threats.

This gives her some friction with Kion in the first two episodes featuring her, but quickly smoothes out as they fall in love and she matures past much of her struggles through their romance.

Is branded with ❌️ by the fandom.

This is largely because of how Rani "ruined" the TLK/TLG fandom's preferred ships and, in some cases, was mean to Kion in their early interactions. However, Rani canonically proves herself as not only competent and reliable, but also mellows out and grows a great deal of respect and love for Kion, while also managing to admit her wrongness of her first impression of him. Time and again she proves to be his equal in intelligence, strategy, leadership, morals, convictions, and combat prowess. This is important because Kion is a pinnacle of goodness, and despite her rough start, Rani is similarly a pinnacle of goodness with her selfless nature and dedication to defending the Tree of Life and not only its hundreds of miles of land, but its thousands to millions of lives.

Mara Jade, infamous Emperor's Hand, former Dark Side assassin, and later wife of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars Legends.

Is raised in the heart of evil with no source of love or compassion.

Is trained from infancy to be a remorseless killer.

Somehow given autonomy for no discernably good or well-founded reason beyond being favored by Palpatine.

Magically retains a conscience despite having no one give her a heart or morals.

Tries to kill her future husband numerous times.

Blames him for her luxurious life being destroyed, despite not having a real life that exists outside of killing and hunting targets when not on vacation.

Only lets go of her attempts to kill Luke Skywalker after murdering his clone in battle.

Receives no trial or punishment for her crimes.

Does not even provide information of any sort to the New Republic.

Jumps straight into Jedi training, with no one, not even Han Solo, questioning this decision.

Retains her abrasive and snide personality when married to Luke and when she becomes the mother of their son.

Continues to choose morally gray options when her husband is staunchly Light Side aligned.

Is given ✅️ by the fandom while these issues are ignored.

This is a problem because like Kion, Luke Skywalker is a pinnacle of goodness. Despite the clear need for an equal and supportive half of the same moral convictions as him, Luke is married off to a woman who continually chooses underhanded/dark methods to accomplish her own personal goals rather than sacrificing and doing good for the sake of good like he constantly does. Furthermore, she always treats Luke like trash, never apologizing for her behavior, and gets away with attempting to murder him while no one tries to kill her for the threat she posed to Luke. I cannot and will not believe that Leia and Han just shrugged and welcomed her into the family the way they did in Legends. It is wrong, out of character for all of the movie characters, and unjustifiable with all of the above taken into account. Mara Jade never changed from her relationship with Luke, and yet everyone praises them to the sky while Kion and Rani are abused to no end for maturing into adulthood and growing stronger from their romantic bond.

This is an unfair treatment on both sides, and I will not tolerate either viewpoints, nor will I forgive the accusations from either fandom on each pair.

Anyone who becomes incensed at this, I have news for you:

I.

Don't.

Care.

(Source.)

[australet789]

In my opinion the writers are blame for how to show came out. In some episodes they should have should have done things differently. Now when we get into show many of the adult are to blame. Mostly Rafiki and Nala as they both were say Kion was ready even though Simba wasn't sure. Now we know Simba let it Kion's guard after he saw them action and at that point he should have stepped up. So, with Nala since we know the Sarafina was being overprotective of her that would explain why she was so lax with her kids. I feel the writer probably didn't know what to with the movie characters when the show was running. Now as for the guard not letting the Pride Land predators eat, we only saw the with Ushari. Most of that was on Bunga but I could understand why he did what he did because they just save that hyrax. Then there is Ushari getting trample a lot. I know that the guard didn't mean to treat so bad has to why it happen was because they did know that he was there most of the time and most likely his camouflage was too good. I feel if the show had more episodes we could have seen more animals. But we know that the writers did dumb down a lot of things. Me personally I would have done things differently. Like for one thing would made Kion a year old rather than a couple of months old. Two I would have the Ndona pride be more evolved in Kion's upbringing. I wish could put all my thoughts and headcanons into a comic, but I can't draw😁😁😁. I know the show isn't perfect, but it is still good to watch. Sorry if this is too long, I just want to give my opinion on the show.

It's ok,l i never said i hated the show

But it's a kids show and they could have done better all the predators stuff instead of making them villains. Or the only time arthropods are shown, it's an red eyed evil scorpion

They went into every single stereotype and instead of fixing stuff they doubled down in the missconception. Which you shouldn't do in a supposed educative show for kids. Makuu, Jasiri and Rani (along the Night Guard) were 100% better written and i remember cheering when Kion got his kick butted by nature itself when he tried to just Roar it away. That stuff should have been show more, the consequences of having such a responsibility and how nature will be like "no, you can't just do that"

I like the show because of the potential and because it has good moments! Again, Makuu, my beloved! Makini and her ADHD! The lore of previous generations! Rani being a flawed lioness but still one with principles! So many things that are there that are interesting that the writers could have explored if they cared enough instead of making the Pridelanders very dumb or fart jokes

[kaythefloppa]

The Lion Guard: Song Ranking: From Worst to Best: [Part 3: #36-1]

Continuing from where we left off with Part 2 of my ranking of songs from The Lion Guard, as part of the decennial celebration. The third and final entry as we approach some of the best songs in the entire series.

Some things to keep in mind.

This is all my opinion, don’t banish me to the shadow realm.

The only songs I will include are songs from the episodes as well as the soundtrack. Songs from the Disney Junior musical shorts (such as the Circle of Life music video from two years back) are disqualified as they’re far more disconnected from the series proper than say, the songs exclusive to the soundtrack.

Background tracks from the one-hour specials that were officially released on Christopher Willis’ SoundCloud will be included in this list as well.

I am counting songs separately from their reprises. However, if a song appears in the end credits of an episode, I am counting it as the same entity as their episode counterpart.

Tumblr will not let me physically post this entire review because it is too large for its limits (which tests that of my own). This’ll be uploaded in parts and hopefully it should be finished before the month ends.

Finally…. I did the math. I had to listen to all 96 songs of the show. Not for the weak…

Word-vomit under the cut and away we fucken go!!

36: Make Way for Bunga the Wise

Wait, why is this actually catchy?

35: Bunga The Wise

NO FR WHY IS THIS ALSO CATCHY???

34: Lions Over All

Unpopular opinion… this MIGHT be on-par with My Lullaby…. No cap.

Unlike most people I don’t mind Zira’s recast. It’s no Suzanne Pleshette, but damn Futterman kills it, ESPECIALLY for the villains’ song. I love the blatant Be Prepared/My Lullaby references. I also liked the song expanding on Zira’s character, even if the episode is infamously messy and contradictory in terms of continuity.

The duet between her and Kion at the end is pretty nice as well. The effect of the shadows showing Zira as the more dangerous threat that domineers over Kion is so damn good.

33: We Will Defend

This is the perfect way to open up the final season, with a brilliantly subtle recap to the arc as shown in the previous season, cleanly transitioning into the final stage of said arc.

What I noticed about this song that no one else seems to mention is how the lyrics foreshadow the rest of Season 3’s story arc. Listen closely at 1:48 and 1:51, and you can hear the chorus saying “Moja Kwa Moja” and “Tuliza” respectively. This song hits the ground running for Season 3, and if it weren’t for the stiff competition that lies ahead, it would be the best damn opener to a Lion Guard two-parter ever.

32: Our Kupatana Community

If they can put Jackal Style onto the soundtrack, there is NO REASON why they couldn’t have done the same here. The vocalization, the subtle ‘Circle of Life’ references, the melody and harmony!!! AAH!!! Adore

31: I Do Have a Great Deal to Say

Yes, we all love the two re-animated bits from the original film in The Lion Guard’s animation and art-style. But this song is so much more than that!!!

For what it’s worth, it’s pretty much an “evil” or rather inversed version of Zazu’s song “The Morning Report” from the extended cut of the original (of which this episode is named after). Zazu sings about what he observes in the Pride Lands to an intended audience. To Mufasa, it’s involving animals, with occasional puns, to Janja and his hyenas, he involves pointless info about Simba whilst whilst wording his statements in a precise way to make himself seem reliable to the hyenas and evade punishment. Peak character writing and peak music. And don’t think I didn’t notice the creepy ass chorus near the end.

(Also the “sounds like he’s flat” joke from Bunga was funny enough to make me forgive the muted section of the song).

30: Tonight We Strike

I remember the very night where Return of the Roar came out and this song came to air. I swear to god those purple singing Hazbin-Hotel lookin' ass hyenas gave me nightmares for weeks. Even as an adult, it’s still a mind-fuck to see them.

Return of the Roar airing on the main Disney Channel allowed it to push more limits as opposed to the series proper on Disney Junior. Hence why the words “die” and “dead” are both verbally said in the pilot, and why this song is allowed to be as batshit acid as it could and I love it for that.

Also, to any “Lion Guard stops predators from hunting and are the bad guys!” Mfers, look to this song right here. It spells out everything that shatters that argument almost as much as Janja shatters the bones of his prey.

29: Long Live the Queen

I hate the reprise that this number, builds up to, but I love the original song, Long Live the Queen, in arguably the best regular-length S3 episode.

It does Rani’s character the justice of actual character focus and struggles with a proper set-up and resolve, and is a good way to end the episode after we open with Janna’s passing.

Also, if you listen closely, Nirmala’s singing voice sounds eerily identical to Fozzy Bear. Now you can’t unhear it either :))

28: May There Be Peace

Another song that I loved hearing in the episode’s promos and was twice as overjoyed to see in the episode’s proper. Whoever came up with the lyric “What’s inside matters so much more than feathers, fur or skin,” I salute you.

27: Ghost of the Mountain

I wish I had more to say about this song, but I love it. Very Halloweeny

26: Shujaa Ponda

Holy fucking shit they got Christopher Motherfucking Jackson to play this Hulk Gorilla on The Lion Guard and to sing as Hulk Gorilla on The Lion Guard and I fucking love it.

For a character with limited vocabulary, they had to be extra clever with the lyrics and they indeed were. Also, that vocalization is GODLY.

25: As You Move On

This song was ROBBED of an Emmy. Christopher Jackson and Heather Headley were a PERFECT duo here (Hi Broadway Nala!) and their performance was stellar. I was way more excited for this song than whatever the fuck the Scar Joker origin backstory song was turning out to be, and I was not disappointed.

Also little Makini is soul-crushingly adorable.

24: Beware of the Zimwi

Khary Payton is a worthy successor to Robert Guilllame in terms of both voice acting and singing. He pulls off this creepy ghoulish vibe that does this song a magnificent service.

23: Height and Sight

Again, words do not do this song enough justice. This song was the best part of the Season 2 finale.

Even though I think Anga needed more appearances in Season 2 before joining the main cast in the next season, this song does a good job at getting us invested in Anga’s character and abilities, as well as showing the really cute friendship between her and Ono: Two crucial details that will come in greatly hand for the climax of Season 2’s story arc.

It really soars, is what I’m saying.

22: We’ll Make You a Meal

The double-entendres in the song involving food were so good, I was almost rooting for Reirei to win. That’s how good this song is. Even though it’s a villains’ song, it sounds perfectly upbeat and camp, which fits Reirei’s manipulative nature.

21: Find Your Roar

I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a song pulled straight from Rhythm of the Pride Lands and/or is a straight-up deleted song from The Lion King. It arguably has the most feel and tone of the original movie out of every song on this list. I like montage songs, and this is an example (one of many on this list), that’s done right.

20: Jackal Style

The first Reirei song of the series…. AND THE BEST!!!!!

I like how the song doesn't actively *sound* villainous. Much like We'll Make You a Meal, if you hear the instrumentals, it sounds like a classic fun song, but the lyrics from the villains make it what it is, reflecting how the villains themselves are con-artists (and very so in this episode).

19: A Real Meal

I love how Mwoga glazes the fuck outta carrion when in Season 1, all he and his flock was trying to do is eat live animals.

Still, it’s one of those acid sequence Lion Guard songs where you love how camp and off-the-walls it can be. Plus, Cam Clarke is a good singer (he dubbed Simba’s singing voice in Simba’s Pride), he deserved to be at the forefront of a musical number.

18: Hero Inside:

This song reminds me a bit of Sisi Ni Sawa in tune, but I still like it. I love the chorus, accompaniment, and the overall moral of the song.

I think the show’s ending sours it a teensy bit. Imagine if Mtoto wound up succeeding Beshte as the Lion Guard’s Strongest at the end of the show after Beshte and co retire. Oh well.

17: Kuishi Ni Kucheka

I’m so glad that the Dan and Phil Gorillas didn’t actually have a full-blown musical number and that the actual musical department went to Beau Black and the Chorus for this song.

I find myself repeating this song over and over again because every single bit of it is an earworm. This episode aired when I was stuck at home sick with the flu, and seeing this kinda cheered me up, so maybe I'm more attached to the song than I should be, but regardless, it's a good song.

16: Stand Up, Stand Out

When Never Roar Again was delayed from its original air date, this song (or rather the shortened version that played on Disney Jr. music videos during commercial breaks) had me in a CHOKEHOLD. I loved it, and always found myself singing it.

I was glad to see the song in the episode proper, and it was way better. Fuli and Beshte’s accompaniment was also really welcome.

15: Life in the Pride Lands

Disney Junior loved to play music videos of this song. I would always get hyped seeing it show up and I would sing this at the top of my lungs.

Headphones are not enough for such an experience. I promise you. Also, Beshte's rap in this song >>>

14: Kion’s Lament

A somber song that involves our protagonist’s struggle with a neat break in between the end that transitions into a powerful uplifting moment. It’s glorious.

13: A Beautiful Day (Ni Siku Zuri)

The perfect song to kick off the new series and introduce us to our five main characters. This, I believe is the biggest strength of Return of the Roar and this song is essentially a full minute or so of that strength being shown to us both in visual and song form. Much like "I Always Wanted a Brother" from Mufasa: The Lion King, this is a song that deserved the constant attention it had during the promotions for the special (previews at D23, released clips online, promos, ect).

12: Big Bad Kenge

The last Ushari song in the series and it’s out with a BANG. I could not stop singing this song out loud on repeat, and this was simply from hearing it in the PROMOS.

Christian Slater nails every line of this song, every octave, every tune, and the hype for Kenge that this song is paid off by how badass Kenge himself is.

11. Fujo

I consider The Rise of Scar to be the true Season 2 premiere (as it was originally scheduled to be according to Kevin Schon) because of this song alone. It serves as a brilliant mirror to “A Beautiful Day” from the pilot episode, showing us the main characters’ interactions with the Pride Landers, only now, in a way to introduce us to the ‘new normal’ of the season. The intro, much like We Will Defend, has amazing foreshadowing, showing characters that will gain more importance in Season 2’s story arc. It also shows a painting of the Tree of Life, foreshadowing Season 3’s arc. The show gets really good once it heads into the dry season story in Season 2 and this song is a very good reason why it gets good.

10: Trail to Hope

I am including the episode version, extended version that was featured on several Disney Jr. promos back when th episode aired, as well as the end-credits’ version of this song all as one entity. A great way to kick off the top 10 list.

Alex Cartana, much like Beau Black, is an amazing singer for the series, and I’m surprised she didn’t get as many background songs as Beau Black did. It’s another song that would feel perfectly at home in the 1994 original film.

9: Sisi Ni Sawa

I call “The Rise of Makuu” the first song of the series since it was released on demand before its actual television airing, but Never Judge a Hyena By Its Spots was ‘technically’ the first episode in airing order. I mention that because the choice to have this be the first to air after the pilot and clear up the “not all hyenas are evil” thing was really smart, and nonetheless, my love for this song is purely because of how good of a message this is to aim towards children.

8: My Way

Best Fuli song ever. I can’t even come up with the right words for it, I am just in love with this song. I heard it in the promos for TLG’s soundtrack before the episode itself aired, AND listened to it on the soundtrack. I was the most excited for this song to come up, and was in musical heaven seeing it on the small screen.

I can also HEAVILY relate to Fuli as an adult, so there’s that.

7: The Legend of Scar

The Legend of Scar, is a piece by the Lion Guard Chorus that appears in Return of the Roar when Simba explains to Kion about the legend of Scar and his Lion Guard, as well as the fall-out between them. This piece appears regularly in the series proper, such as Lions of the Outlands or Return to the Pride Lands. A snippet of it also appears in the official trailer for Season 3.

The repeating Swahili chants, the tune gradually becoming more and more intense, the crescendo, and ESPECIALLY the haunting vocals at the end after the story is finished. I headcanon that the Lions of the Past sung this to Scar as they took the Roar of the Elders from him. It’s THAT freakin good.

The juxtaposition of the Lion Guard’s lemotif with the Legend of Scar theme at the end, which ALSO foreshadows Scar’s return in the Season 2 premiere! AAAAHG!!!

6: Flamingo Dance Party/Go Go Flamingo

This song should be a Tik-Tok dance. Why is this song not a Tik-Tok dance.

5: I Have a Plan

Real ones remember the Scar clickbait incident of 2017 where the promos tricked everyone into thinking this song was gonna be in The Rise of Scar, only for it to not be in the special, but in fact very next episode two weeks later.

But it was good clickbait because I love this song. It fucking slaps. In case you didn’t notice, he has a plan. Let him cook.

David Oyelowo was a perfect casting choice for Scar. He pulls off the perfect level of hammy for a villain of this show, and simultaneously the perfect amount of entertaining menace and malice that suits Scar’s character. The notes and the beat are all perfectly within his range, with hauntingly amazing visuals. Nowhere near the level of Be Prepared, but still really fun.

4: On The Last Night

This is the best character sung song. It encapsulates everything we've come to know and love about the main characters as they reach the end of their journey. As much as I'm still mad at how Max Charles' singing was recasted, I'm twice as happy that the last song he got to sing before the series closed.

3. It is Time

I remember hearing this song in the promos for Return of the Roar and the main show and I wondered what it was, or where it even came from. I soon learned that this was featured on the soundtrack and was basically what inspired Kion's Lament.

I repeat. Beau Black is a musical GOD. So much life and energy is put into his performances and it all just adds beautifully to what the show is about. I'd argue that this song could've been in the finale [entry #1 non-withstanding]. There are already two variants of it in the series proper. Plus Beau Black has enough singing and vocal range to dub an Adult Kion singing, and it would be thematically appropriate for the show, and Kion's character in general.

2. Call of the Guard

I wasn't expecting this to be the theme song for the show, but I was pleasantly surprised. The actual theme for the series proper does a very good job at setting the stage for what's to come in the episode. The soundtrack version is what largely gets this this onto the top three. MAN is it good. It starts off calm and mysterious before swelling into grandiose., with the chorus being divided evenly in half. By the time it ends you feel so satisfied. I'm very glad we get to hear bits and pieces of it in both the movie pilot and the series proper.

1. Here Comes the Lion Guard

I'm very jealous of all the people at 2015's D23 expo who got to see this song be performed live by Beau Black and the Lion Guard chrous.

But seriously, lives were changed. The earth shook.

If you've at all even gone within an arm's length of The Lion Guard, whether you watched the show when it was on the air and saw it in the outros, seen promos of it on Disney Jr, watched the show online, or even saw some clips on YouTube, there's a good chance you've heard of this song in any capacity.

I said it before and I'll say it again. Beau Black was the perfect choice for the musical talent behind this show. So many songs on this list, but especially this one just prove that point. It retains the same African vibe that flows through the franchise, is upbeat enough to be welcome for the show itself, the Swahili chorus, lyrics, and Beau's vocals are all breathtaking, and all topped off with the instrumentals. And the outro versions of the song (both in Return of the Roar and in Seasons 1-2 of the show) are brilliantly edited to where you can still enjoy it in its own right. Also, shout-out to Disney Jr. for reworking the post-credits scene from the pilot into their actual promo for the show.

I actually think the song could've worked as the intro to the show, because for all Call of the Guard manages to successfully pull off, Here Comes the Lion Guard manages to do that twice as well as an entry point to the series.

Alternatively, I would've easily accepted it being reworked into the series proper. The hill that I will always die on is that Here Comes the Lion Guard should've been the final song of the series. If they didn't have the budget to compose one last original song, then they should've went for this to be recycled for the finale. It would compensated for the song being axed as the Season 3 outro, and it would've better made the series come full circle. Plus I know for a fact Diamond White would've absolutely eaten up the final Walinzi Wa Simba! lyrics.

If you ever decide to tell your friends about The Lion Guard, or show it to your children someday, introduce them to this song. The show itself may not be perfect, but this song is.

And there you have it. My official ranking of every Lion Guard song. Lots of calculations (and errors thereof), as well as all-nighters were pulled in the making of this ranking and it's fucking worth it.

Happy [early] 10th anniversary to The Lion Guard!

[devilsrecreation]

It's established that good and evil lions of the past who passed away can be summoned (we see this with Mufasa and Scar).

But my fun little hypothetical/rhetorical question that I tend to think over. Would this be possible with non lions? As in hypothetically, would it be at all doable to summon Ushari, Aminifu, or whoever else that isn't a lion from the afterlife? And what would that even look like?

There's really nothing in canon, semi canon (or even fanon as far as I'm concerned) to back this up, which makes it a very interesting hypothetical to consider. 🤔

I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED CUZ THIS IS EXACTLY MY HEADCANON!!!

My answer? It absolutely is. The other animals just don’t know it yet

I picture this all the time with my previous gen crocodile oc’s (i.e Pua’s mate, Makuu’s mom, ESPECIALLY Kiburi’s dad, etc.). I like to think it’s the same as how Kion asks Mufasa for advice, only the spirits reach out to THEM when something is wrong. Somewhere in my blog is a one-shot taking place during “The Rise of Makuu” where Pua doesn’t know what to do now and his late wife, Kuimba, gives him advice. Same with Kiburi and his dad. Kiburi would be having a problem and before he knows it, he’s looking at the ghostly head of Piga like “Okay, what’s the matter?”. Piga always knows when his boy needs help and it’s very sweet

Another example of a non-lion ghost, (or ghosts, I should say) appearing is in one of my fanfic ideas where Chungu’s deceased parents appear to him.

It’s easy to summon spirits if they’re good. You just have to look up and ask whoever you want advice from. Evil animals are more tricky, as you need a staff and a powerful roar or smth. With animals in Katikati (aka purgatory), maybe somewhere in the middle where you have to find a certain place, concentrate on who you want to summon, and give the most emotion-filled sound you can make. The purgatory animals like Nuka and Ushari are usually transparent where only certain animals of the same species can see them, but if they’re summoned, they appear in a similar way to Scar

[tofautisawa]

What are your thoughts on Bunga? Although I’m sure I have a good idea.

If you are guessing that I am not a fan of him, then you would be right.

BUT....I will say that he did legit have some moments that actually got a chuckle out of me in Season 2 and I did like the episode Babysitter Bunga. And I am always a sucker for the Happily Adopted trope, and Timon and Pumbaa referring to him as their baby is downright adorable.

I thought they would improve his character, but in season 3- he was the absolute worst. From causing problems thanks to how reckless he is, to apparently finding amusement from Kion going mad from the bullshit scars and lashing out at his friends- nevermind that Kion could have actually killed him earlier and despite all of that, he never apologizes for any of it. I actually made this shitpost in response that I have posted beforehand because it just baffles me the writers chose to do this with Kion's "best friend."

It's like despite how serious season 3 wanted to be, they REFUSED to actually have Bunga's character grow. I don't know why they couldn't have a moment where Bunga just drops the reckless dumbass trait to take something seriously for five freaking seconds. Like you can still have him be the comic relief without having him come across as being blatantly insensitive towards his "best friend" and expecting us to laugh at it.

And don't get me started on how the show's morals and lessons they try to teach in various episodes, NEVER applies to him at all. We had multiple episodes talking about how stealing is wrong because it disturbs the "Circle Of Life", cue Bunga knowingly taking food from a mother bird's nest and he never gets scolded for it. Fuli is considered in the wrong for doing a reckless act even though that is like Bunga's entire character that we should be rooting for. They even try to have Bunga say "Even I wouldn't do something like that." to Fuli. But I guess trying to dive into lava because he think it can't hurt him is something he would do? In which he also endangered Fuli because she had to keep saving his ass. Should have let him get the Ushari treatment, Fuli.

Speaking of Ushari, Bunga is one of the main reasons Ushari turned evil and you can't change my mind. This moment still infuriates me to this day.

Despite all of this, I actually own a Bunga plush that I refuse to get rid of because my partner used it to prank me. lol So there's is that.

TL;DR: Me and my homies don't like Bunga.

[tired-lamb]

Kion x Baliyo headcanons? :3

I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!

kion x baliyo headcanons

i think of their dynamic as golden retriever and black cat; the golden retriever being baliyo and the black cat being kion. baliyo is this bustling lion full of energy at all times while kion is a little more chill compared to him, more composed but when given the opportunity will absolutely go full hyper mode

i’ve mentioned it b4 but a song I think really fits these two is rose coloured boy; a song sung by someone whose lost hope for this world who meets a ‘rose coloured boy’ who still believes theres hope and upon meeting each other the rose coloured boy makes the first person unwillingly regain her hope for the world

thats how I hc them both to become close. kion is going Through It tm and is just about to give up because no matter what he does none of nirmala’s methods are working. maybe he will turn evil. maybe thats his destiny.

and then in comes baliyo who is sort of crushing on kion by this time, but sincerely offers his own opinions and support

he thinks that kion’s giving up too easily. that from what he’s seen of kion, he truly has a good heart. maybe its been tainted. maybe its been wounded. but the goodness inside it will always remain because thats just how kion is!

he also reminds kion that if he were truly to turn evil the spirits of the past would never have chosen him

and after several encounters like these is when kion has his moment with the guard in uhh that ep where we see them as babies and shit

ANYWAY then once kion is fully healed, in my verse I think kion does go to the tree of life after sorting out the shit with vitani in the pridelands just minus the whole rani and him getting married thing. think of it like a retirement

so then kion, now better and healing more day by day, finds comfort in baliyo’s presence especially since he feels the need to give back to him for all the help he gave

baliyo thought kion would have forgotten abt him and so is very happy (and flustered) when kion goes out of his way to get closer to him

their bond grows and grows till they’re inseparable

baliyo is still crushing on kion but is repressing his feelings HARD because he doesn’t believe kion will ever like him back

he thinks that there’s no way someone as cool as kion would like someone as worthless as baliyo (his words in my hc, not mine I love him)

kion meanwhile is dense as bricks and completely oblivious to baliyo’s weird nature whenever baliyo has a hard time repressing his feelings

rani, nirmala, surak and the others are all Groaning because god how can someone be so incredibly dense

the three of them try to encourage baliyo to not repress his feelings and give it a shot because they hate seeing him unhappy

eventually tho kion does start to feel a shift in how he feels about baliyo

it starts with little things like baliyo’s laugh, his playful nature, his stupid looking hair that kion has somehow come to love, his smile, the way he always tries to cheer everyone up, how selfless he is and how child-like he remains despite all his battles

he doesnt realise it but he starts falling fast and hard. soon its taking everything in kion to not just grab baliyo’s face and kiss him silly

however he doesnt want to scare baliyo off— this being one of the few things keeping kion from confessing his love for baliyo

eventually he takes it up to mufasa who smiles— because he knows how kion feels and how baliyo feels too— and gives kion the reassurance he needs.

finally, kion plans something. he plans a date. a date disguised as a .. simple stroll.

I hc kion to be very romantic when he wants to be, so for their first unofficial date he sets everything up reeeal nice; theres flowers and he makes it so that it happens at sunset

baliyo upon seeing this set up gets secretly excited before calming himself down because surely this doesnt mean anything

until kion starts to talk to baliyo about how much he enjoys his company and all the things he loves about baliyo

baliyo meanwhile is a flustered mess and is trying to blubber something back because he cant let kion say all that nice stuff and NOT compliment him back andholdondidkionjustaskhimifhecouldkisshimohmyspiritsohmyspiritsohmysp— YES

incase anybody didnt get it while baliyo blubbers kion gets the hint and decides to take the lead and asks baliyo if he can kiss him :)

of course baliyo says yes and then suddenly the both of them hear noises nearby only to find out its rani, nirmala, surak and the guard cheering LOL

theyre a very lovey-dovey couple though for the first couple of months it took baliyo some time before he gained enough confidence to return kion’s advances x]

kion himself is pretty new to this thing (well, tbf, both of them are) but he tries to do the things he’s seen his sister and kovu do and some of them work out and some of them.. well, some of them leave the both of them awkward lol

they try not to let their relationship affect the way they were before but after the first couple of days kion couldn’t help it. he needed to kiss his boyfriend silly

the trust and bond between the both of them is extremely strong, not just after getting in a relationship.

kion helps baliyo a lot on his confidence issues, though there are times where he struggles to help due to his lack of knowledge. he mostly draws on what his own friends did to help him but it works only sometimes

eventually kion realises this isn’t something he can completely help baliyo in— but he does do his part. he wants nothing more than to help his boyfriend after all!

by ‘doing his part’ I mean that kion helps wherever and however he can, mostly by giving a lot of reassurances.

it takes baliyo some time to realise just how much kion loves him. he still cant believe kion actually likes him back, and it takes a lot of time for baliyo to trust that kion won’t leave him. won’t leave him like his parents did.

baliyo’s introduction as boyfriend to the pridelands royal family went smoothly for the most part— but there was a lot of overprotectiveness from nala and kiara’s side.

i was initially thinking of having simba be overprotective but after kovu I think he’s learned his lesson x] plus how baliyo’s family has always been close to their pride as well

nala and kiara meanwhile just want to make sure this is someone worthy of their baby son/brother, so it *does* take some time for the both of them to trust baliyo but they do grow to like him immensely :)

there wasn’t much problem for kion with baliyo’s family since they all already knew him though rani DID threaten kion if he broke her baby brother’s heart

in relation to the both of them being lovey-dovey, they absolutely have petnames for each other but the most common one is mpenzi / mpenzi wangu for baliyo, and meri jaan for kion (my love in swahili and hindi <3)

cough. shameless baobabfruit mention but for their wedding hazina is absolutely the flower girl

I know this technically isnt a hc but for their shipname I really like @dawn-sunlight’s ‘secondsunshipping’ idea for em since theyre both the second sons and I kind of made it a running thing for kion shipnames to have sun in them,, but it’s definitely still open for ideas!! me personally I have none but yea

aaand I think thats all I have for now! haven’t made an hcs post in this kinda format since my passionfruit post so this was nice :D! also made me realise how much I project on baliyo lmao. hope you liked these!! I don’t talk abt em enough but I well and truly love this ship <3 <3 /gen, pos.