Another typical day had begun in the Pride Lands- the sun was up, the sky was clear, the air was cool, nothing out of the ordinary. Just the way Simba liked it.

'Ah, this is perfect,' Simba thought as he took in a deep breath, 'nice and quiet.'

"Sire!" he heard his major-domo call out to him, causing him to sigh.

'Or so it was, at least.' He looked over to his side, and saw the blue hornbill land on a nearby rock, before bowing to his leader. "Good morning, Zazu. I take it you are here with the morning report?"

"Actually, Sire, I am here on urgent demand," he replied, peaking the king's interest. "There has been a rockslide in the gorge near the Outlands, and there is a small group of wildebeest trapped on one side, blocking them from returning to their herd." He waited for a response, but didn't hear one. He looked at Simba, and saw that he was looking down at the ground, noticeably glum. "Are you alright, Simba?"

"Hmm? Oh, erm, yes. I'll be sure to have the Lion Guard check it out."

"Are you sure you're alright, sire? You seem quite, well, quiet."

"Yes, Zazu. Is that everything?" Zazu nodded. "Then I would like you to handle the morning patrol in the Lion Guard's absence. I will ask Kiara to join you."

"Understood, sire."

Simba headed into the cave, where Kiara and Kion were talking to each other. He couldn't make out what, but they seemed to be getting along. He couldn't help but smile- there was something oddly innocent about it.

"Good morning, you two!" he said to them upon approaching them. They looked up at him and smiled.

"Good morning, dad!" they both replied.

"You two seem to be getting along."

"We were just talking," Kion replied, albeit a bit sharply.

"Yeah, dad, Kion was just telling me about-" she stopped when Kion cleared his throat. "Anyway," she rolled her eyes at Kion, "you look like you want us for something. Is something the matter?"

"Nothing is wrong, per se. However, today, you will both be doing things a little differently."

"Is this going to affect my patrol with the Guard?"

"Actually, you and the Guard won't be patrolling today, or at least for this morning. Kiara will lead a patrol with her friends, and Zazu will accompany them. You and the Guard have a special mission today, and I will explain what it is when we head to see the Guard. Is that understood?"

"Yes, daddy," Kiara responded, before heading out for her patrol.

"Okay, dad. Should we head to see them now?"

"I suppose there is no point in holding it off."

Simba led his son out of Pride Rock and towards the cave that the Lion Guard used as a meeting point. Along the way, Kion would occasionally glance at his father and notice that he seemed worried about something. Was it to do with the mission that he was going to go on soon? He tried asking what was up, but Simba never replied, so Kion decided to leave it be until he reached the hideout.

Once they reached it, they saw that all the other members of the Guard- Fuli the cheetah, Ono the egret, Beshte the hippo and Bunga the honey badger- were already waiting for them. Or for Kion, at least. When they saw the two lions enter, they bowed to the king.

"About time you showed up, Kion!" Bunga told his leader, throwing his arms up. "Come on, we're going to be behind schedule with the patrol!"

"Slow down, Bunga," Simba told his 'adoptive brother', "I have asked Kiara to lead the patrol today, while all of you take care of something else."

"What's the kerbubble, Simba?" Beshte asked.

"There has been a rockslide in a gorge near the Outlands. A group of wildebeest have been separated from their herd by the fallen rocks. I need you to clear the gorge and ensure that the wildebeest reach their herd safely."

"That's it? That doesn't sound too bad!" Ono pointed out.

"I wish it was that simple, Ono. Unfortunately, this is very near hyena territory, and the Outlanders' territory too. Not to mention, the walls for the gorge have been worn down over the years, so another rockslide could occur at any moment, which, if it doesn't fall on the wildebeest, could cause a stampede."

"Dad, we've dealt with wildebeest before. We can take care of this."

"Kion, you know I have all the faith in the world in you and the Guard, but this gorge is incredibly dangerous. I would join you, but I don't feel comfortable there."

"Sir?" Fuli asked, "Forgive me, but is there something you aren't telling us?"

All eyes were on Simba now, as he sighed and looked at his paws. "Have I ever told you about what became of my father, Mufasa?" He took the silence to mean 'no'. "I see. Well, his brother, Scar, was jealous of his power and wanted it for himself, but that wouldn't be possible as long as both Mufasa and I were alive. So, in an attempt to kill us both, he led me to the gorge, and used the hyenas to create a wildebeest stampede. I was trapped in it, but my father saved me. However, when he tried to get to safety, Scar dropped him into the stampede, killing him. I felt it was my fault, so I fled the Pride Lands, and Scar took over, running the Pride Lands into the ground. It wasn't until I returned and retook the throne that the Pride Lands were restored. I lost my father there; I don't want to lose my son, or any of you, as well."

"Don't worry, dad," Kion gave him a reassuring smile. "We always look out for each other; we'll be okay."

"I know you will, Kion. I just want you to be careful." He sighed, again, before smiling. "Alright. I will let you get on with it."

"Alright, guys! Till the Pride Lands end!"

"LION GUARD DEFENDS!"

With that, they left, leaving Simba behind, watching as they left.

'Please, great kings, watch over my son and his friends. Don't let what happened to my father happen to any of them.'