//------------------------------// // Prologue: Kiara in Trouble // Story: The Pony Guard // by TheClownPrinceofCrime //------------------------------// IN THE PRIDE LANDS “Quite a beautiful morning here in the Pride Lands isn’t it, Nala?” Simba asked. “Indeed it is, Simba,” said Nala. “And a very relaxing morning as well. I can watch the entire landscape all morning.” The king and queen sat together on Pride Rock as they beheld the sun rise up in the sky. Moments later, they noticed many animals of the Pride Lands adjusting themselves under the bright sun and starting their new day with their usual routine. The rulers smiled together as they beheld all their subjects well and healthy. “Hmm, seeing our subjects being happy just brought me flashbacks,” said Simba as he had some thoughts in mind. “Really? What are they?” Nala asked. “Remember that time when we defeated Scar and brought peace and harmony back to the Pride Lands by the time I ascended to the throne?” Simba recalled. “Yes?” Nala confirmed. “That was the... intense and best moment I ever had. It brought joy in my heart to see our friends happy again and for me to finally walk in my father’s paw prints. It’s just something I will never forget.” Simba smiled. “Neither will I, dear,” said Nala. “I know that both Kion and Kiara will follow your paw prints once the time comes for them to rule.” “I know they will,” said Simba. “Good morning, Mom! Good morning, Dad!” their daughter said, walking in. “Good morning, Kiara,” Simba greeted. “Did you sleep well last night?” “Yep! It was so good seeing the full moon shining bright last night!” she said. “Although it did get a bit cold last night.” “(Chuckles) I understand that. Glad you rested well, dear,” Nala chuckled. “Are you ready for our hunting practice today?” “Yep! I’m ready like how I was yesterday!” said Kiara. “Fantastic,” smiled Simba. “I hope everything goes well with your hunting practice today, Kiara.” “Thanks, Dad,” Kiara said before running to him to give him a hug. “I’ll see you and Kion later!” Once they said their farewell, Nala and Kiara left Pride Rock and departed to the fields elsewhere in the Pride Lands. However, they were not the only ones awake this early in the morning. The vultures spied on them from a dead tree and observed the queen lioness and the princess cub leave their home to commence their planned morning activity. “Mmm-hmm, well this will certainly give us an advantage. Queen Nala and their little daughter going on a hunting practice? How convenient...” said the leader. “Indeed! We should get that cub and bring her to Scar!” one of them suggested. “I think we should report to him first before we take action.” another one suggested. “What should we do, Mzingo?” a fourth vulture asked. “I think it would be wise to inform Scar of this golden opportunity,” replied Mzingo. “Once we tell him, he will have a great plan for us all. Those in favor, say aye!” “Aye!” they all agreed. “Those who oppose?” he called again. “None!” they said. “It is settled then. Come on, follow me!” Mzingo ordered, flying to the sky. His parliament of vultures followed him back to the outside boundaries of the Pride Lands called the Outlands. In the Outlands, they arrived at a certain volcano under a dark cloud. They flew inside the volcano and settled on the rocky platforms above a pool of lava. There, a hissing snake saw them descend from the sky and land above him. “Ah, it appears that you brought some... good news for us?” he asked. “Indeed, Ushari,” replied Mzingo. “We believe it’s something you and Scar would find interesting to hear.” Suddenly, the pool of lava bubbled and slightly exploded with a ray of fire. The head of a fiery lion revealed himself with his signature evil smirk. “Oh yes, please do tell, Mzingo. I’ve been waiting for some good news.” he said. “The Queen herself is out in the Pride Lands with Kiara for some hunting practice. That can give us an opportunity to strike at them while they are alone and vulnerable.” Mzingo reported. Scar thought about the information given until he evilly laughed. His laugh startled some of the vultures except Mzingo and Ushari. “This is perfect! Just perfect! I have a plan that will both bring Simba down from the throne and earn me all of the Pride Lands!” he exclaimed. His followers were immediately intrigued as they listened. “What’s the plan, Scar?” Ushari asked. “Kiara will be our main target. Tell Janja and his clan to capture her; plus, tell them to not allow Nala to stop them from reaching unto their precious little child. I have something in stored for her as well as the Lion Guard.” Scar planned, maliciously chuckling. “It will be done, Scar,” complied the serpent, evilly smiling. “I will inform him immediately.” Ushari slithered away to carry out his command. Scar then faced the parliament of vultures. “As for you and your vultures, Mzingo, you will provide cover for Janja and his hyena clan to prevent any failure from happening. I need her alive...” Scar growled. “As you wish, Scar!” Mzingo willingly obeyed. They flew out of the volcano to carry out his order as well. The evil lion once again malevolently smirked. “Very soon, Simba, everything you ever loved and cherished will be destroyed before your eyes,” Scar said. “And I will make you watch... to see your failure as a king! HAHAHAHAHA!!!” LATER Nala and Kiara were together in the fields in hunter mode. Way ahead of them were antelope. “The moment you see your prey in a distance, you make sure you become quiet and stealthy as possible,” Nala whispered to her daughter. “You don’t want to make even a tiny noise; otherwise, they will run away from you.” “Remain quiet as possible... got it,” said Kiara. “Wait for the right opportunity to strike,” Nala continued. “Once they are unaware of your presence, that’s when you make your surprise and catch your prey. Okay?” “Got it, Mom,” replied Kiara. “There they are.” They laid their eyes on the antelope who were eating the grass in peace. “Good. Patience is key, Kiara,” Nala lectured. “Now, on the count of three, we pounce on them. One, two...” The antelope suddenly screeched in terror and ran for their lives. “What?” “Hey! What’s going on?! We didn’t do anything yet!” Kiara said, chasing after them. “Kiara, wait!” called Nala. Then she heard wild cackling to her left. She looked at that direction to discover—to her horror—the hyenas scaring off the antelope and chasing her own daughter. “Oh, no... the hyenas!” she cried. She then followed pursuit. “Hahahahaha!! It’s working, boys! That little princess is ours now!” Janja bragged. “Yeah! She isn’t gonna get away this time!” Chungu added. “So uh... will we eat her once we catch her? Or...?” Cheezi asked. “No, furbrain! We capture her and bring her to Scar! He’s got a plan for her that will help us finally win!” Janja said. “Ooohhhh!” Chungu and Cheezi said in unison. “Hey, those antelope look so delicious! I’m gonna eat one!” Chungu said, licking his chops. “Yeah, me too! I’m hungry!” Cheezi added. “Focus on the task, furbrains! We will bring her to the boss and then we will have our lunch!” Janja reminded. “Now, come on!” Kiara tried to catch a single antelope, but they were a little too fast for her. They all successfully ran off to some place else while Kiara breathed to catch some fresh air. “Come on! I almost caught one!” “But we’re about to catch you!” Janja yelled. The cub turned her face in surprise to see the hyenas run to her and surround her while crazily cackling. “You got nowhere to go, little princess.” “Janja? What are you doing here? Get away!” Kiara demanded, but the hyenas kept getting closer to her with wide grins. “Leave her alone!” Nala cried, running to them while roaring. The hyenas looked back to see her coming to them. She smacked Chungu and Cheezi away before glaring at Janja. “Nala! I wasn't expecting to... uhh... see you here!” Janja sheepishly smiled. “I mean no harm at all!” “Leave her alone now, Janja. I will not ask you the third time.” Nala growled. Suddenly, Mzingo and his vultures swooped down and pecked at Nala. “Oh, no you don’t! The prize is ours for the taking!” he cried. “Ha! Can’t stop us this time, Nala! She’s ours now!” Janja smirked. Chungu grabbed Kiara and ran away along with Cheezi and Janja. They manically laughed once more as they finally fulfilled their mission. Once he saw they were gone with Kiara, he nodded to his vultures. They flew up in the sky and escaped the area. Nala looked around to see her daughter already gone and the villains getting away with her. Fear took a hold of her as well as sadness. “No! Kiara! I have to tell this to Simba and Kion!” “Let me go, Janja! Whatever it is you’re planning, I want no part of it!” Kiara quickly objected. “Hahaha, oh no, you misunderstand,” smirked Janja. “I’m not the one who is doing all the planning. It is someone else whom I’m sure you have heard of before.” They soon reached to the Outlands and to the volcano. The moment she set her eyes on it, bad memories came to mind as she remembered being at that place. “Oh no... not this place again. I’m having a bad feeling about this.” she thought. They entered through the volcano where they see Ushari. Chungu then set Kiara down as they awaited a certain someone to appear before them in a pool of lava. “So where is this... someone you mentioned? I don’t see him here.” Kiara said, arching an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, Princess,” hissed Ushari. “He is right here.” On cue, the pool of lava burst with the same fiery ray. Scar appeared while laughing wickedly. “Who are you?” Kiara demanded. “It is I... Scar,” he introduced himself. As soon as he mentioned his own name, Kiara stood back in shocking and crippling fear. Never in her life did she ever thought of seeing Scar, the most dangerous creature the whole kingdom faced, with her own eyes. “No... it can’t be. SCAR?! This is really you?!” Kiara asked in shocking horror. “Haha! Yes, indeed! Never thought you would see me, have you? Hahahahaha!!” Scar taunted. “No! HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?! What do you want from me?!” Kiara demanded. At that moment, Scar sent fire lasers from his eyes to create a fiery portal. “Push her in,” he commanded. Seized by fear, she made an attempt to run, but Janja pumped her into the portal before it closed with the sound of her screams. “In she goes!” Janja said. “What was that thing? Did that piece of fire finish her off?” “No, Janja, it did not,” Scar frowned. “Kiara was sent through a portal to a world she has never been before. There, I have another plan that will make her... very useful. HAHAHAHAHA!!”