It had been at least a year since Zira's death, and her former pride finally came back to the Pride Lands, the humble home of many beautiful and graceful African creatures like the Eland, the white and black rhino, the elephant, the spitting cobras, the hornbills, and of course, the ruling faction of the entire land, the lions. One of them was the king himself, Simba, and then his loving wife, Nala.

In their home of Pride Rock, the beautiful and gigantic rock formation that made a humble home for them and their pride. Among them, was Kiara, the soon-to-be queen of he Pride Lands, and her handsome mate, Kovu, who was Zira's son. Kovu would be the soon-to-be king of the Pride Lands with Kiara together as lovers.

Of course, the Pride Lands were as peaceful as it is, beautiful and a very scenic view of the savanna from the rock. Not only was there true peace in the circle of life, but there was also a new face in the pride. There was a cub named Kion, who was the son of Simba and Nala, and little brother of Kiara. He was still a cub, and almost looked like his father, except that he had a small mane of hair on his head.

At the moment, he was playing a game with Bunga the honey badger who was as old as Kion was. Bunga was... not really the brightest creature in the Pride Lands, but he was a very brave honey badger, which was why his kind is the most fearless animal in the world.

"Come on, Bunga! You can do better than that!" Kion shouted playfully. The game they were playing was tag, and both of them were having so much fun together as best friends.

"I'm trying, Kion!" Bunga laughed. "You're just too fast for me!"

And so the playing and the laughing went on and on for quite a long time around the water hole near the rock.

oh how Kion was living the good life, being the son of a King and Queen of the land, and he can get a special treatment on certain things for being that. Sure, he might now become king, but that was okay, for he was happy as can be.

After a long while, both of them had a little break and took time to catch their breath from all the fun they were having.

"Wanna get a watermelon, Kion?" Bunga offered him

"You know very well that lions are carnivores." Kion replied with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, right." Bunga remembered. In a happy tone of voice, he said "Oh well, more melon for me! What are you going to eat, Kion?"

thinking my about a decent meal as his lunch, he said "I'll see what I can hunt around here."

"gotcha. Zuka Zama!" He cheered. "Here I come sweet watermelon!" Then he began hopping back to his home eagerly. Kion looked on at him no chuckled st how silly he looked running all the way back to Timon and Pumbaa.

Yes, Bunga is the adopted son of Simba's friends, Timon the smart-Alec Meerkat, and Pumbaa, the food loving warthog with a big heart. Kion then felt like going back to Pride Rock and see if his family can help him hunt an animal that he wants to eat.

All of a sudden, he heard a voice. "Kion!" It said. It was Ono, the cattle egret that was also good friends with Kion.

"Hello, Ono! What brings you here?" Kion called to him from the ground.

"I just thought I would say hi and drop by." Said the egret. Then the small white bird hovered a little above the grassy floor and perched on his two legs. "What's happening?"

"Oh you know, the usual." Kion replied modestly "I was just done playing tag with Bunga and maybe I should go back home. That Bunga, he is always hungry I tell you."

"heh, you can say that again." Ono agreed. "He is definitely like Timon and Pumbaa."

"yeah, he is just like them, Ono." Kin agreed with his avian friend.

"Well, I gotta look for any Cape buffalo, elephants, or rhinos to perch on so I can have a huge parasite buffet before the oxpeckers hog everything... again."

"Okay, Ono. We you soon."

"Bye Kion." Then white bird happily flew off into the sky and was like a white cloud disappearing into the skies.

Now feeling thirsty, he decided to take a sip from the drinking pool, and enjoyed the cool water feeling inside his mouth. It was just then he saw Beshte, another one of his best friends, who was a young Hippopotamus with great strength.

"Oh, hey, Kion. I didn't see you there." Said the hippo.

"it's okay, Beshte. How's it going with you?"

"Not much really. You going back home to your family?"

"yep, I sure am. Although... I don't know if that is such a good idea." Kion said. "I... don't wanna get in mom and dad's way, for they have been helping Kiara and Kovu learn how to be a queen and king someday."

"come on, Kion. They all love you, you are family after all, and that is what families do."

"I just don't want to bother them or pester them while helping Kiara and Kovu."

having a sympathetic look on his face, Beshte remarked "Just because they have been helping Kiara with her royal duties lately, it doesn't mean they don't want you around ever again."

"True. At least Kiara's not like Vitani, who sometimes teases me."

"ain't that the truth." Beshte said

"Kion!" Said a female voice. They saw a black and white figure running towards them in a speed of light. It immediately stopped in front of Kion, and it turned out to be Fuli, the cheetah with great speed, and a little cocky attitude for it. "I saw you guys ad. Thought I should say hello."

"hello, Fuli." Kion greeted her. "We're not really talking about anything, just the usual stuff and shooting the breeze."

"huh. Nothing new huh. Well, I have to get a group of baboons away from my home, they can be real pests you know?"

"yeah, but they are just baboons, it's part of the circle of life. They can't help being curious."

"I know I know. Have a safe travel home, Kion."

"Asante, Fukui." Kion remarked gratefully. In another flash of light, Fuli ran as fast as a lightning bolt and ran all the way back to her home.

Beshte looked on at the cheetah in amazement. "Wow, that cheetah is definitely something."

"hevi kabisa." Kion muttered in an equal amount of impressiveness. "I gotta go home."

"okay Kion, see you soon." Then the hippo went into the deep waters of the lake. While heading home, Kio was a little nervous and thought if it was okay to really come back home and be with his family.

inside the rock, there was Kiara and Kovu sitting together in happiness and bliss. "Hi guys." Kion said

both of them worked their ears up and saw the cub, and both of them smiled "Kion, welcome back!" Kiara said in joy, more than happy to see him. "How was your game with Bunga little bro?"

"it was fun."

"did he smell again, buddy?" Kovu joked with a chuckle.

"You know Bunga and how he is, Kovu." Kion said modestly. "He has more guts than brains."

"what can you expect? He's a honey badger after all." Kovu said with a smile.

"Yeah, I mean, I do care about him, but sometimes, I just don't understand him." Said Kiara. "He is a nice boy though."

"a lot of us don't get him, sis." Kion noted. Looking around at his surroundings, he asked "Do you know where mom and dad are?"

"Ah, they went out hunting again." Kiara said.

"Simba said that he will try and find a big buffalo bull for all of us to eat as a family." Kovu said. "But like he said, he'll try to."

"Who knows? Maybe he might not get a Cape buffalo bull. Those guys are tough as stone after all." Kiara said. "They do not go down easy like zebras or some antelope would."

"She's right." Kion agreed. "Where's Vitani?" Just then he felt something rub against his red tuft of hair.

"right here, squirt." Said another female voice that sounded a little tough. "No need to look any further."

Kion gave out a slightly annoyed look after Vitani's little action she just did.

"Oh come on kid, don't tell me you're not happy to see your sister-in-law." She teased him.

the cub made a small groan of irritation. "Come on, Vitani, give him a break. He's just a cub." Kovu said.

"I know that." Vitani shrugged. Then back to the cub she suddenly made a scream "Ahh! A spitting cobra behind you, Kion!"

"Aah! Where? Where?" Kion looked around in a state of panic, but there was no spitting cobra in sight. It was just then Vitani guffawed to herself on the floor, covering her face slightly.

he made a small growl "Not funny!"

"no, it was hilarious!" Vitani laughed.

"Enough Vitani!" Kiara reprimanded. "I think he has quite enough teasing for one day." The soon-to-be queen gave Vitani a stern look with her ears down, towering over her little brother next to her.

"Okay okay. I'm sorry." Vitani said. Then back to Kion, she remarked "Sorry, buddy. I was only playing with you."

"I know. I'm so used to that." Kion said.

"anyway, how as your little play date with Bunga?"

"Same as always. Bunga always has more guts than brains."

"heh, you can say that again." Vitani snickered.

"we're home!" Said the king's voice. Simba and Nala came back with a big piece of meat with them after their little hunt. "Kion, you're back. How was your day with Bunga?"

"pretty good, dad."

Simba smiled warmly at his son. "Good, I hope you played safely each other."

"Come on Simba." Said Nala. "Kion is a very good boy, and he is very well-behaved, unlike you when you were his age."

"Oh stop it Nala." Simba smirked. "We got a big buffalo bull for all of us to eat and sustain our hunger for a whole month of two."

"Smells good." Kovu said.

"you can say that again." Kiara agreed with her mate.

A little later after they had had a decent lunch, all of them were full, and so was the rest of the pride. The meat was so juicy and tasty, but luckily, there was still enough buffalo meet to go around..

"If only Grandmother Sarabi was here to eat this, she would love it." Kion said

"I know." Kiara said "she would enjoy it so much."

"Sadly she is not with us anymore." Simba said sadly. He and everyone's heads bowed in sadness.

"well, at least she is reunited with Grandfather Mufasa, right?" Kion reminded.

"That's right, son." Simba said with a warm smile, gently hugging him with his paw.

"So dad, you want to play hide n seek with me around Pride Rock?"

"sorry, son. But I already promised Kiara and Kovu that I would help them be a queen and a king for when they rule someday."

"oh, right." The cub sounded a little bummed to remember that. Yes, his parents were very busy and a little inattentive to him just because Kiara and Kovu are future rulers of the Pride Lands.

"Come on, Kiara, let me teach you how to properly watch over the rock again. And after that, I will instruct you on how to tend to the sick and wounded."

"Okay, father." Said Kiara with a smile, then she and Kovu went with Simba for their usual training

Feeling a little said, Kion decided to turn to Nala and asked her for some fun. "Mom, you wanna play with me?"

Nala replied "Sure, how will this game-?"

"Nala my queen!" Called a British voice. It was Zazu the majordomo hornbill that helps keep things in line. He fluttered right in front of Nala, and said "Pumbaa is stuck in a hole again."

She made a small groan of irritation. "Again?"

"I'm afraid so. Of course Timon is trying to pull him out, but due to his small size, he cannot pull him out with some assistance."

"how stuck is he?"

"quite stuck, my queen."

"okay, tell them I'll be right over there."

"yes your highness." Zazu said boldly, and then flew out of the rock in great speed.

turning back to Kion, she said "Sorry Kion. Duty calls as a queen. Some other time though, okay?"

sighing, Kion replied "okay mom." Then Nala hurriedly went out to the savanna to help Timon and Pumbaa with their usual problem.

"Why don't you ask your other friends to play with you?"

"and I suppose you don't want to play with me right now, Vitani?"

"Not if I am so tired, no. Normally I would love to play with you, but..." she made a yawn. "I desperately need a nap from all that rough housing with my brother earlier."

"figures."

"Sorry Kion." Then she went to another part of the rock to take a little nap, and in a few minutes, she was already snoring. There was Kion, alone in his free time, having no one to play with right now.

"oh, it's not fair." Kion muttered to himself, emitting another sigh. "Do I even exist at all?" Then he went outside took a look at the scenic view of the Pride Lands like he would do occasionally. In the valley, just below the horizontal he saw many lionesses spending some time with their cubs together as a family. "Does anyone even love me?"

The Next Morning

It was five in the morning, and the morning sun was striking on the Pride Lands. Every lion in Pride Rock was fast asleep. Kion himself was sleeping next to Kiara, who snuggled close to him against her warm body. Simba and Nala slept together and Kovu slept next to his mate. Vitani was sitting on far side of the sleeping pride of lionesses, snoring the loudest. Despite it, the others were too fast asleep to even notice her snoring.

Kion was the one who got up the earliest, and looked at his big sister with some disdain. "Who am I kidding, everyone loves Kiara more than me, anyway." He made a quiet sigh that he wouldn't wake the other lions up and slowly moved free from Kiara's mighty paw. After that, he quietly sneaked through many sleeping lions without waking them up, and slipped out of Pride Rock.

Walking across the grassy ground, he saw a couple of lone trees, some with leopards, some with baboons, and a few with vultures. Of course when he sees those carrion birds, he would keep his distance, and the same with the leopards since there was one who was a nasty piece of work named Makucha. Finally, he was about one or two miles from his home and decided to stop near another water hole.

Feeling a little tired, he rested his legs on the dirt. Looking over his reflection. One or two hours have passed, and he hardly moved a muscle, and looked around at his surroundings.

Far From Home by Five Finger Death Punch plays

He honestly didn't know if he should come back home and face his family and continue for them to pretend he doesn't exist sometimes, or just move on like Simba did a long time ago when he was Kion's age.

"It's almost like." Kion sang "Your heaven's trying everything to break me down." then he repeated what he just said the first time he sang.

Guitar Solo plays

looking at his reflection, he began imagining if he was not important or loved by his whole family or his subjects. Then he thought of his friends, Bunga, Fuli, Ono, and Beshte all at once, and hanging out together, forming the Lion Guard together as a team together to keep the Pride Lands at peace.

At least they all pay attention to him, but of course, is he of any importance to this life at all.

"Your heaven's trying everything. You're heaven's trying everything to break me down." he concluded his singing. Resting his head on his forearms, he began to cry with some tears streaking down his face.

"Kion." said a deep voice with an echo. Perking his head up, feeling a little startled. He saw another male lion standing right next to him with a warm face, and almost looked like his dad. "Are you alright?"

"Who- who are you?"

"I am the one who always guides Simba and as well as you. I have been watching you ever since the day you were born. Kion, I am your grandfather."

Kion stopped his sobbing and his eyes widened, realizing what this lion was. "G-grandfather Mufasa?" he said

He nodded a yes with a warm smile. "Yes, my grandson." he replied in his regal, noble voice. He looked like a spirit for Kion could almost see stuff through his deceased grandfather. Then the deceased lion sat next to him at the water hole.

"How are you here?" Kion asked

"I am here because you are here, Kion. I might be dead in body, but I am in you in spirit. I live in you, just as I live in your father. Now, do tell me, what is the matter?"

Kion sighed, and he said while wiping a tear from his face "Grandfather, I am wondering if I am even wanted here in the Pride Lands." and he slowly turned his head away. "Mom and dad haven't really been noticing me."

"Kion, look at me." Mufasa gently urged him. Feeling a little reluctant about it, Kion tilted his head back to his wise grandfather anyway. "Good. Now Kion, your father and mother do care about you, as do everyone in your home. To them, you being born into this world was one of the greatest moments of their lives."

"well... they don't sound like it lately." Kion said and sniffed his nose. "They love Kiara more than they love me anyway. They don't even have so much time to play with me anymore."

"Oh Kion." Mufasa said with great sympathy. "They love you just as much as Kiara. It's just that your daughter is going to be the queen of this land someday, and Kovu will be the new king. Simba is trying to do all he can to show Kiara what it it like to be ruler of the Pride Lands."

sniffing again, Kion remarked. "What about my mom?"

"She can be just as busy as your father. Being leaders of the Pride Lands is never an easy task. Believe me, I know."

"well, I do't know what it's like, because I won't be king like my dad was."

"Very true, but that is because you will not have to carry the same responsibility that your father will pass down to Kiara and Kovu. Unless something terrible has happened."

"fair enough. Or if both of them cannot rule over the place."

"exactly, but that is still a long time ahead of your life. For you are still young, Kion." Said Mufasa. "What I am trying to say is your parents do love you, but the world does not revolve around you."

"I didn't say that, Grandfather."

"I didn't say that you did." Mufasa replied. "But what I am trying to say is, your family will always love you, and so will your closest friends that you socialize with."

it was silent for a second, and then a minute, but Kion said "look grandfather, I just need to be... alone. Not that I am not happy to see you- but- I mean- it's just-"

"I understand completely, my grandson." Mufasa said. "Sometimes being alone does help with our problems if needed. But always remember that I love you Kion, and so does the rest of your family. Remember, I will always live in you, and help you whenever you call my name. Always."

then the deceased lion began to fade like a ghost would normally do. Kion didn't really know what to think of this. Was he hallucinating? Or was it really the ghost of the great king Mufasa?

"Grandfather, wait!" Kion tried to stop him, but it was too late. Mufasa' spirit vanished.

feeling like crying again, he let more tears go out of his eyes. After three long minutes, Kion heard a voice as he kept sobbing.

"Kion!" It was Kiara calling his voice. He looked to his right and saw her just looking for her little brother across the plain. "Hello? Where are you?"

the sad cub just continued sobbing quietly to himself again. Then Kiara saw Kion and perked her ears, and immediately went up to him.

"Kion, there you are. How many times have we told you not to go out so far into the Pride Lands without our-" then she noticed her crying. "Kion? What's wrong?" She asked softly, sitting next to him to try and console him.

"nothing Kiara." He sniveled. "I'm fine."

"you don't sound like it to me." She said. "What's the matter?" She gently lifted his face so she could look at her face. Her own had a very caring and sympathetic look on her face.

Realizing that his big sister was persistent to see what his problem was, he finally said "alright, I feel like I am worthless here, and maybe I was a mistake."

Kiara's eyes went wide in disbelief. "Don't say that. That's not true."

"Well, mom and dad haven't really been noticing me lately." He confessed modestly. "They love you more than me anyway."

Feeling so sorry for her brother and blaming herself for his misery. "Kion, come here." Then she gently pulled him close to her chest for a hug, and Kion was sobbing in her fur while she was soothing him. "Shhh, don't cry. Your big sister's here." She soothed.

"do you really love me?"

"shh, of course I do." Kiara replied. "You're my little brother. Nothing will ever change that. Kion, mom and dad love you so much. Why would you even think they wouldn't love you anymore?"

"well, dad doesn't really want to play or do something fun with me anymore. Mom is also as busy, like yesterday, she had to pull Pumbaa out of a hole."

"Bro, he does that because I am going to be queen one day and Kovu the king, so we have to know everything about being co-rulers of the Pride Lands. Dad is just trying to help us. It's not that he doesn't want to play with you, he just doesn't really have so much time because... he's the king. And for mom well she's the queen."

"it's not just that." Kion said looking at his sister.

"what else?"

"they always give you so much praise for being the princess of the Pride Lands, while I... don't really mean anything. When mom and dad help you become queen, it makes me feel... worthless, like I was a mistake."

"shh, don't say that." Kiara soothes him again. Then she hugged him once more. "I love you Kion. You are one of the greatest things that ever happened to us. You're the greatest little brother in the world."

"Kiara!" Called a male voice, which turned out to be Kovu. The black lion took a glimpse and found her keeping Kion close in her arms. "Oh you found Kion and- hey, what's wrong buddy?" He noticed the cub crying some more.

"Kion thinks that he is meaningless to us."

"what? That's crazy." Kovu remarked. "Why would you even think that, Kion?"

"because Kiara is going to be queen while I am just going to be plain old Kion." He said.

"Oh, come on. So what if you won't have to be king, it doesn't mean you're not special." Kovu reassured. "You are an amazing cub."

"Yes, we all love you."

Then the sound of running legs were heard "Kiara!" It was Simba.

"Kion!" Cried Nala.

"Ah, there you all are." Said Vitani. "Oh, what happened?"

"Kion what's wrong?" Asked Nala.

the cub turned to his parents and said "mom, dad, do you guys love me?"

both of them had a confused look on their face and back to their son. "Of course we do, Kion. Why would you doubt that?" Simba asked, kneeling down to him in front of Kiara.

"well, you help Kiara and Kovu become rulers someday, and I just feel worthless. I just have a feeling like... like I'm not special at all while my big sister is." Then Kiara held him closer again. "And sometimes you guys don't even notice me and don't have time for me so much anymore like we used to do."

both parents began to feel guilty and thought of how much Kion wanted to play or spend time with them. "Kion, of course we love you. We all do." Nala said. "We would never think less of you because you won't have to be king." Then Nala licked his back affectionately.

"And... I guess we're to blame too." Simba admitted. "We never mean to hurt you like that. You are part of our family."

"your father's right. We have been ignoring you lately, but it doesn't mean we do not love you anymore."

in unison, they all remarked to him "We're sorry Kion."

"Yeah, you're a great cub." Vitani stated. "And I mean it."

"You're not teasing me this time, are you Vitani?"

"I swear on my mother's grave." She stated. "I... love you as well."

Kion felt so touched to hear that and was trying to stop his sobbing. "I'm sorry if I ran all the way out here without telling you guys."

"it wasn't entirely your fault. Like I said, we're to blame, too." Simba repeated. "I promise I'll spend more time with you."

"So do I, sweetie." Nala said.

"And Kion, we all love you." Kiara said once again.

"Yeah, don't ever doubt that." Kovu said

"And... I'll try and go easy on you next time, squirt." Vitani stated herself.

"Would you like a drink out of this pond?"

"Yeah. I guess so."

"I am parched, looking all over for you sure made me thirsty back there." Simba said. Everyone else agreed with the king, and and drank the water along with Kion. After they were finished, he himself was the last to wrap it up.

"Are you okay, Kion?" Kiara asked him softly.

"A little." he modestly said. "I just want to go home."

"Sure. And don't forget, we all love you." said Simba. "Nothing will ever change that.

"Thank, guys." Kion said, and then he made a yawn.

"You tired little dude?" asked Vitani with a smirk.

"Yeah."

"How early did you get up this morning?" asked Nala

"When the sun first risen up in the sky."

"Oh my." said Kovu, you must be really tired just getting up right now."

"Well, i'm not that tired." Kion said, then he yawned again.

"Au contraire." said Nala with an amused smile on her face.

"okay, I'm just... not used to getting up so early like this in the morning." Kion noted. Then he felt Kiara's law gently rub his small mane of red hair.

"it's alright. You want me to stay close to you? As a big sister would do for her little brother?"

After thinking for a second, Kion said "okay." With a smile. Then they all went back to Pride Rock and Kion immediately fell asleep on the usual spot he was on earlier, and immediately fell asleep. Kiara smiled warmly at her sibling and kept him close to her.

"Sweet dreams, Kion." She whispered in his ear so sweetly