A few days had passed.
For as far as the eye could see, the Uasilands were filled with creatures, all training for the upcoming battle. Word had come down from the Uasian throne, whispers from those near the shimmering tower. A battle was coming, one as large as the rising, all-seeing sun.
At the base of the crystalised structure, Kopa had gathered his followers. Karimu sat beside him, remaining firm and protective as a vast swarm of creatures stood before them. Many of the Uasiland's high-standing members rested behind them, welcoming their newly sworn brethren into the meeting.
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you!" The Uasian King roared, swaying his mane in a chilly southern breeze. A ruffle of murmurs hummed through the crowd, swallowed slightly by Kopa's intense stare. "It's a shame it's under these circumstances but..."
"Scar and his forces have taken too much!" Karimu spoke, arising from her comfortable sitting position. Her tail raised offensively whilst her eyes scanned the gathered leaders. "If we don't fight, push back against his corruption..."
"All we know and love will crumble." Kopa continued, giving his queen a firm gaze. The Uasian King started to stroll up and down, turning his attention away from Karimu and onto the gathered crowd. "But together, we have a chance to end this corruption, this purge on the Circle of Life."
"By now, you should have been told the plan." Karimu, regaining her composure, nodded gently to Afya. The Head Sister stood out from the crowd, followed by her fellow siblings in pride. With a concentrated breath, the lioness began a shallow hum that rippled through the air.
Before the bewildered crowd. A single shard of Uasian crystal chipped away from the tower, slowly hovering before the gathering. As it spun, many leaders flinched, unsure as to the crystallised construct's intentions. Only the members of the Uasian Pride stood strong, knowing all too well what was happening.
As the crystal reached its maximum speed, a beam of ethereal energy burst from its tip, piercing the sun-baked earth. Ripples reverberated across the ground, spiking at the paws of the gathered lions and lionesses. The paracausal pulses reshaped the earth, twisting the soil into a perfect replica of the savannah.
Kopa and Karimu stood strong before the replicated map, raising their chins in unison. The crowds calmed, gently returning to a quietened state. With an affirming nod to Afya, Kopa continued, placing a paw forward. "As you all know, we'll be breaking up into regiments." As the Uasian king spoke, A familiar group of animals stepped out of the pack. The Lion Guard bowed, just as Kopa smiled in their direction.
"Simba, Nala?" Karimu glanced slightly behind the guard, locking eyes with the Prideland's royalty. "You'll lead the main offensive here." She reached out to the freshly formed diorama, pointing a single claw to the shallow passage through the mountains. "Once you reach the Pridelands, you'll spread out to cover as much area as possible."
One by one, The Uasian biarchs reaffirmed each leader's position in the plan. Jua and the Machweo Pride were to support the Pridelanders, securing western passage through the desert while Kopa and Karimu snuck through the eastern passage to the Outlands. Many of the smaller prides would secure the southern side of the Pridelands, marching in from the Backlands. Hopefully, their forces would be able to box Scar's in, trapping him from all possible means of escape. With the numbers they had, it was probable, maybe too probable.
"What about us?" Kion queried, swaying his head sideways. The rest of the guard seemed curious too. Bunga stepped forward, as proud and fearless as ever.
"Yeah, I know we can give them a fight!" The honey badger began punching the air, attempting various martial arts moves before falling flat onto his face. Fuli and Ono sighed, rolling their eyes away from their brave member.
Kopa reaffirmed his posture as Karimu concluded the meeting. As the various prides started to depart, the Uasian King approached the guard cautiously. Kion remained seated, puffing his chest out in pride before Kopa.
"You'd be wasted on the front lines." Bringing his attention back to the slowly decaying diorama, Kopa swayed a paw towards the small rock symbolising Pride Rock. "From our latest reconnaissance, Scar's forces have taken Jasiri and her clan as hostages." Kion remained focussed, locking his eyes on the rocky structure, his home. To think his twisted great uncle had rooted himself in such a holy site!
"Hapana!" Ono's eyes widened, chilled by a sudden breeze smothering the gathered guard. Each of the animals glanced at each other, unsure about how to react to this news. Kopa remained firm, returning his attention back to the briefing.
"As far as our allied eagles could tell..." He moved his paw to the opposite side of Pride Rock, a flicker of crystalised light fluttering across his eye. "They're being held in the underground caverns."
"Hmm..." The small egret analysed the diorama, rubbing his beak with his wing. "I think I know the caves." Ono turned to Kion, who's chest remained as exposed as the Theluji Mountains. "They run close to the lair."
"Interesting." Kion pondered the information. His mind flowed with plans and strategies, plotting every possibility for saving Jasiri. She would have done the same for him after all. He couldn't let her down. He couldn't let Kopa down... Sharing a firm glace between his friends, the Lion Guard leader arose, pouncing forward as if to lead a charge. "Okay Lion Guard, let's g-"
"Kion! Wait!" Kopa's commanding vice froze the adolescent lion. The rest of the guard turned, eager to hear what else Kopa had to say. Trotting with all the swagger he could muster, Kopa strolled up to them, his breath slowing in a blink of an eye. "It would be foolish to send you in now." The Uasian king glanced out to the Theluji Mountains, witnessing the faint tint of Scar's corrupting presence glistening from their tips. "Stick with your father, for now, aid him on his front then break off when the opportunity arises."
The young lion guard leader sighed, relaxing his neck before turning to gain the guard's attention once more. "He's right." Raising his head, Kion stood strong, affirming his place as a leader. "Lion Guard!" Ono, Beshte, Bunga and Fuli all swayed to their leader, halting in their tracks as the young lion continued. "Change of plan, we need to stick with the king until an opportunity presents itself!" Fuli immediately knew what he meant. With an elegant trot, she marched to the young lion, smiling pleasantly in his direction,
"Of course, Kion!" Her emerald-green eyes gleamed in the sunlight. Kopa watched the interaction with intrigue. He noticed the cheetah's tail, hanging low as a sweet scent brushed against his nose.
"We're gonna fight up front!?" Bunga leapt into the conversation, stretching his claws out in a martial art pose. "UnBungalievable!" The honey badger jumped, spinning in the air with a single claw reached to the sky before landing with a soft thud, slightly unstable from the spin.
"I don't know about that Bunga." Ono sighed, bouncing up and down on Beshte's back as the hippo thud towards the others. With an affirming glance. Kion nodded to Kopa, who simply nodded back. Before any more words could be spoken, the adolescent lion charged forwards, towards the Uasian watering holes the Pridelanders were currently calling home.
"Till the Pridelands's end!'' The rest of the guard seemed to immediately energise, chasing after their fierce leader with a booming reply.
"Lion Guard Defend!" Kopa and Karimu watched as the team of various animals rushed off across the Uasilands, eager to catch up to their king. The Uasian Queen nuzzled her head into Kopa's shoulder, inhaling deeply as he rocked his head sideways, giving her an affectionate nuzzle in return.
"We're so close..." She licked a small tuft in his mane, letting the musky, pleasure-inducing scent and taste ping her brain. Kopa hummed. He loved any moment he could get with her, being this close. Creeking his neck down, he returned her lick, making contact with the crystalised marking infused in her forehead.
"We'll get them back, I promise." The Uasian King whispered, his smooth tone gently gliding upon the chilly northern breeze warming as it reached Karimu's ears. The echoing roars of lions bellowed past them, passing on the orders given by Kopa himself. It was almost time.
As Karimu retracted herself from his mane, a familiar pair of figures approached. Two lionesses; one scarred and blindered and the other physically perfect. The Uasian Queen gave her mate a slight nudge, watching as they approached cautiously.
"Kuwinda? Wivu?" Kopa acknowledged the approaching lionesses, raising his body to a strong, affirming stance. Kuwinda's eyelids started to flutter open, revealing a cyan-blue shimmer of light from within. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine... Kopa." The huntress replied, standing faintly beside her best friend. Wivu glanced to her side, rather cautiously propping her up slightly. Kuwinda's belly hung gently, bulging just barely from her body. "It's just-"
Before she could continue, Kopa arose. Stepping forward, the Uasian King raised a paw, caressing the younger lioness' shoulder. A surprisingly warm breeze fluttered through their fur, forcing both of them to comfortably shudder.
"I... We won't be coming with you... Kopa..." With a heavy breath, Kuwinda spilled their thoughts. "It's not that I don't want to fight-"
What she's trying to say is-" Wivu interrupted, nuzzling her dear friend comfortably. "In her condition..."
"Say no more." Kopa smiled, his voice as smooth as a mountain stream. The two lionesses froze, shocked by the king's response. As he stretched his head out to nuzzle Kuwinda, the lead huntress reacted, carefully rubbing her head deep into his darkened mane. "I didn't expect you to fight." Feeling Kuwinda's nose inhale against his fur, the Uasian King glanced over at Wivu, who slowly began to smile in relief. "Either of you."
"The health of your cubs is far too important to risk." Karimu, stepping forward towards the gathering. She lowered her head, sighing softly before sitting beside Kopa. "I don't want to lose any more cubs to that monster."
"You won't." With a stern stare, Kopa affirmed the queen's wishes. Kuwinda rested her head beneath Kopa's, slowing her breath. He lowered his muzzle, giving Kuwinda a gentle lick across her forehead. Feeling his loving tongue brush through her facial fur.
Wivu watched this interaction, her ears folded down as a chill consumed her chest. "I would fight... Make up for my mistakes..." Her deep, sorrowful gaze was broken as Kopa's attention began to be drawn towards her. "But they-" The huntress couldn't hold back the heartbreak. It was her fault. Amani and Ulinzi's abduction. If she had been there, remained by Kuwinda's side...
"Shhh!" Kopa rushed to her side, leaving Kuwinda be. Karimu, sensing the lead huntress' wounded heart, strolled beside her. The Uasian king caressed Wivu's side, repaid with a sweet head rub. "It wasn't your fault, Wivu." Feeling the Lioness' head rest against his chest, he glanced back at Karimu and Kuwinda, who also shared a brief nuzzle. "This is on Scar!"
"Thank you, Kopa." Just as Wivu calmed, a series of roars echoed across the savannah. It was nearly time. Kopa and Karimu gave each other a meaningful glance, before turning to Kuiwnda, who raised her head high.
"I guess you'll be off then..." The younger lioness sighed, peeking her eyelids open even more. The gleam from the Uasian crystal infused in her eyes nearly blinded Wivu. For Kopa and Karimu though, they had lived with the substance enough to gain immunity.
"Indeed." Kopa arose once more, slowly making his way to Kuwinda. With one final head rub, Karimu stepped away from her sister-in-pride, letting Kopa give their lead huntress one final, loving moment.
"Kopa, before you go..." The scarred lines stared up at her king. Her eyes started to glisten brighter as a clear ooze began to drip. "Promise me... Promise them you'll return..." She glanced down at her pelvis, the bulge of life barely noticeable on the lioness' athletic form. With an affectionate smile, The Uasian King rested, raising a paw to Kuwinda's belly.
"I promise, Kuwinda." He moved his paw across the bump, feeling a resonance deep within. He wouldn't let them down like he had Ulinzi and Amani. No cub deserved that. With a heavy heart, he stared at the lead huntress in the blinded eyes, resting his tail tuft on hers. "I won't let our cubs down." Upon hearing his words, Kuwinda rubbed her nose under his chin, inhaling deeply as the pair shared one final nuzzle. The roars on the horizon increased., shadows of various creatures rushed past along the horizon. The resistance was moving out.
"Take care Kuwinda." He barely noticed the slight dribble rolling down his cheek. "Never forget... I love you!"
Kuwinda's heart pulsed, She barely found the breath to reply.
"I... I love you too, your majesty..."
