A/N: I realize it might be getting pretty confusing at this point what the Roar can and cannot do, so let me just quickly recap Kion's current understanding for the readers:

There is one single underlying principle behind magic: Connections.

1) Enlightenment gives you power by essentially forming a connection to yourself.

2) You can then control the elements through your connection to the world around you.

3) With enough training you can sense other enlightened animals, communicate and even share your power through your connection to them.

4) Upon death, you can use your connections to the living in order to tie yourself to this world.

That's it! Pretty elegant system, no? That's something I love about rational fiction: You get to take very simple basic rules to tell a very complex story, by seeing how those rules logically interact with the world and then allowing them to be exploited by the characters who know them.

"Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"

Kion stayed there for a long time, sitting next to Bunga and then lying next to him when sitting became too tiresome, never speaking a word nor letting go of his paw.

Distantly, he became aware of another set of paws approaching him from behind. "Leave us," said the queen. "Let me talk to my son."

There was the sound of other animals retreating: His friends had stayed close by, then. That was reassuring, he thought, though in truth he did not know how he felt about anything anymore.

"Kion…"

"I know," he said. "It's not my fault he's dead, and I shouldn't beat myself up over it. It's okay to grieve, but I can't stay here forever. It's still not safe here, and we need to move on."

He turned to look at his mother, who if anything looked even more pained for having heard him say those words. "You were always the mature one," she sighed. "Wise beyond your years, even though you're the youngest. Sometimes, I think it's you who should have been the heir."

"Don't say that." He forced himself not to look back at Bunga's body. "Kiara was really heroic, too: I couldn't have done any of this stuff without her. She'll be a great queen one day."

Nala smiled wanly. "I'm very glad to hear you say that."

Kion stood up and stretched his aching muscles. He felt more drained than when he first lay down, somehow. "I'm going after dad and granduncle Scar," he said. "And I'm taking the Guard with me."

"I'll come with you."

He shook his head. "You're needed here. Mum, we nearly lost the Pridelands just now: We promised the herd animals that we would protect them in exchange for letting us hunt, and instead I made them fight. If you abandon them now, they'll all leave. There would be nothing left for us."

She frowned, the lines on her forehead taking on an uncharacteristically stubborn look. "Take your grandmother with you at least. The lionesses-"

"…are needed to protect you and Kiara if Ushari attacks again." He walked up to the rest of his companions, who had been staying as close as possible while still keeping up the pretence of privacy. "This fight is between Ushari and the Guard."

"What about me?" Jasiri cocked her head. "I'm not a member of the Guard, now am I?"

"You are now." Kion dipped his paw into the mud, and pressed it against his friend's left shoulder. "Jasiri, you came to the Guard's aid in our time of need, even though you had every reason not to. You, who would mock the gods and laugh in the face of danger, I name the Bravest of the Pridelands."

"Oh, a muddy paw print," said Jasiri, letting out a wry laugh. "That's nice. Shouldn't I be the strongest in the Pridelands, though? I feel like I could easily bowl any of you over…"

"Beshti isn't dead," said Kion. "Let's go."

There was some mild protest from Fuli as well as from his mother, but Kion was already moving. Momentum, he reminded himself. As long as I just keep moving, I can keep my balance…

The three of them carefully made the descent down the steep cliffside of Flatridge Rock, taking care not to trip and roll down the rocky slope as they met up with Ono at the bottom. Spraining a limb now after everything that happened would just be too stupid… yet at the same time, it would almost seem appropriate.

"Hey," said Ono, trying very hard to sound casual. "So uh, now what? What's the plan, Kion?"

"We head into the Outlands, and find Scar and dad before Ushari does. I can use my connection to trace them – I've been getting a lot of practice with that, lately." Left unsaid was that if it came to it, he would be able to track Ushari instead. His mood darkened at the thought.

"Right," said Ono. "I'll just… scout ahead then, shall I? Make sure we don't get ambushed, and all that…"

Ono hurriedly flew off, and then it was just Kion walking together with the two girls. He sighed, and turned to face them, ignoring the worried looks on their faces. "So what happened out there? Did Janja attack your clan, Jasiri, or was it really just a diversion like we thought?"

"It was just a trick," said Jasiri. "Fuli said she suspected as much when she caught up with me, but I didn't believe her, so she found a bird and sent it on ahead to prove it to me. We then turned around and met Ono and your mother along the way..." She looked away, abashed. "I never really knew your friend, Kion, but I still carried him all the way back from that volcano. I remember thinking what a nuisance Pridelanders were, even when unconscious. Hard to believe he's dead after surviving all of that…"

Fuli slowed down until she was walking alongside the two of them. "Kion, I'm sorry. We should have been there for you, but we all just ran off and left you and your sister all alone when you needed us most. We… I should have been faster. I shouldn't have stopped to catch up with Ono first. If I'd just…"

"Stop," said Kion, rubbing his forehead with one paw. "Why are you saying all of this? The two of you didn't just run off randomly: Jasiri went to save her family, and you and Ono went to get help because I asked you to. And Bunga was your comrade, too, so stop acting like all of this only relates to me."

"Well yes," she said, hesitantly. "But you were the one who was closest to him. We all know that, Kion."

He stared hard at the ground ahead of him as he walked. Somehow, her words were only making him angrier, and he thought he knew why.

"Bunga was a loon," he admitted at last. "I didn't really think about it when we were younger, but I guess we all figured that one out eventually. However, he was also the youngest of us, and kids are always kind of like that, aren't they? Imagining themselves to be immortal, heads full of heroism and never thinking twice before they act…" He looked away, unable to face his friends any longer. "You were right all along, Fuli: I should never have invited him into the guard."

Fuli looked about to say something in reply, but Jasiri let out a loud and mocking laugh. "Seriously? Kion, do you know what the initiation ritual is for when a young new hyena joins the clan? We all take turns biting him and beating the crap out of him until he either dies or rises in rank – and the only way for a male hyena to rise in rank is if another male leaves or dies first." She gave him a contemptuous look. "You named Bunga the bravest animal in the Pridelands, and as I understand it he went out like a hero. You should respect that, instead of insulting his memory by second-guessing yourself now."

Kion stared at Jasiri for several long seconds, and then he shook his head and laughed. "You hyenas are really messed up; did anyone ever tell you that?"

Her grin seemed to falter, but then she settled for a wry smile instead. "I know someone who used to say that. Guess I'll finally get the chance to settle the argument with him, once and for all."

"You won't have to do it alone," said Fuli, putting a paw on her shoulder. "You're a member of the Guard now. We'll fight him together."

"Together," said Jasiri, seeming to mull it over. "Huh."

Kion gave the cheetah a curious look. "What is this now, coming from you? What happened to going your own way?"

She shrugged, withdrawing her paw. "It got old."

They traversed the wastelands a while longer, the scenery growing ever bleaker around them as they left the Pridelands behind. It did not take long for Ono to swoop down and join them once more, sounding a cry of alarm that was almost reassuringly familiar by now.

"Everyone, there's a sand storm on the horizon! It's directly on the path to where Kion said he could sense Scar and King Simba. It looks like they're fighting, but I can't tell who they're up against."

"Janja," Jasiri said immediately. "And Shenzi, if she's still alive. There's no way he'd stand a chance against someone like Scar all by himself."

"I wouldn't be so sure," said Kion. "Ushari was channelling power through his lieutenants throughout our battle: If Janja is Ushari's last remaining lieutenant, then chances are he'll be a lot tougher than you remember."

"Looks like the storm is coming from the direction of the volcano," said Fuli, squinting at the horizon. The black clouds were still looming over that part of the Outlands, coating the entire region in a thick layer of soot. "Who's willing to bet that Ushari went and made it into his new secret lair?"

"Now you're starting to sound like Bunga," Ono joked, before wincing like he instantly regretted it.

"Yeah," said Kion, smiling wryly. "I doubt even a snake like Ushari can survive in a wasteland like that. I wouldn't be surprised if he's harnessing its power somehow though – there's definitely something off about everything Ushari has been able to do all of a sudden." A dark suspicion had begun to form in Kion's mind ever since he felt the presence of that blinding golden light, but it was too soon to be certain. It looks like we're fighting the demons of our past, either way. Out of all of them, it seemed Ono was the only one who did not have a personal stake in things, since he had never even liked Bunga.

But perhaps that was unfair. After all, if it was personal for them, then it was personal for Ono too.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go save the day."

They all picked up the pace, rushing towards the scene of violence. The cloud of dust was close enough now that all of them could see what was going on with their own eyes: The desert itself seemed to have risen up against the lions, as the sand swirled like a vortex around the lone silhouette in the centre.

"Something is wrong," said Kion. "I can sense two enlightened beings, but neither of them is Scar." He cursed under his breath – he had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"I can sense just one," said Jasiri. Then her eyes lit up in realization. "Janja."

"I'll go on ahead," said Fuli, and before Kion could object she had already zoomed off. Ono looked between Kion and her, visibly torn in deciding what to do.

"Well go on then," Kion said with a sigh. "Try and stop her from doing anything too boneheaded." So much for our new and profound appreciation for teamwork.

"King Simba!" Fuli rushed off into the vortex even as Ono called for her to slow down. "Take my paw!"

"Janja is trying to bury him," Jasiri realized in shock. "Just like Ushari did with the elephants. Come on!" The two of them roared at the swirling maelstrom, which was so vast it nearly touched the looming ash clouds behind it. Together they blew most of the sandstorm away, but beneath it the King could be seen desperately struggling as despite all his efforts the whirlpool of sand was dragging him down into the earth. Fuli vainly tried to reach him, but when she saw Kion she abandoned her attempts and ran up the newly formed dunes instead, charging at a second dark silhouette that seemed to be watching them all from above.

"Dad! Hold on!" Kion had to stop himself from rushing into the swirling chaos, as he surely would have been dragged down along with his father. Instead, he focused on the rock that the king was trying to clasp onto and roared at it with all his might. He could feel Jasiri's strength being added to his own, and together they launched the rock into the air, king and all. He directed the kingly projectile into the sand dune next to him, before pushing up the sand to catch his father and cushion his fall like a desert pillow.

The resulting crash threw up another fountain of sand, and Kion and Jasiri were left coughing and spluttering as they searched the vast dunes for the royal lion. They found him in a decidedly dishevelled state, bleeding from where the sand had scoured him but seeming otherwise more dazed than injured.

"Son?" He blinked up at them from where he was lying on his back, trying vainly to struggle back to his paws. "Is that you? And… Jasiri?"

"Huh, first time someone doesn't address me as hyena," Jasiri said with a smirk. "This must be that royal etiquette I've heard so much about. I have to admit, I rather like it."

"Not now, Jasiri," Kion snapped. "Dad, what happened? Where's Scar?"

"We were chasing Janja, but it turned out to be a trap," the king said, finally managing to get his paws to support him. He tried to brush his tangled mane back in place, revealing the scorched lines that had marred his forehead ever since his possession by King Ahadi. "Is your friend going to be all right?"

They all looked up to where Fuli was running circles around the dark silhouette while dodging the blasts of wind that were directed at her. At last she leaped at him, pouncing with a speed that was almost too fast for the eye to follow, but the silhouette simply raised up a ring of sand around him and blasted it outwards in every direction at once. Fuli went flying and rolled down the dunes at breakneck speed, before coming to a halt not too far away from where they had dug out Simba. The silhouette took one last look in Kion and Jasiri's direction, and disappeared in a swirl of sand and blackened ash.

"Go help her," said Kion, motioning towards Fuli. As Jasiri and Ono went off to dig Fuli out of the sand he addressed his father once more. "Dad, you said you were attacked – who did it? And is Scar still alive?"

"He's fine," Simba said irately. "So am I, if you were wondering. We traced Janja all the way here, but it looks like he found help, because he was suddenly far stronger than before. Scar started yelling something about how another of his followers must have betrayed him, and then he ran off and shouted at me to meet up with you and head back to the Pridelands while he took care of things."

Kion felt his jaw slowly distending. "Scar said what? You're telling me he went off to fight Ushari by himself? No, what am I saying, of course he did. How else is he supposed to get himself killed, with the rest of us getting in the way of his suicide attempts? That stupid, self-destructive, narcissistic old fool!"

"That he is," the king sighed. He brushed some of the sand out of his fur in a vain attempt to regain some of his wounded dignity. "Regardless, it seems Janja must have circled around somehow, because he caught me by surprise." He looked up sharply. "Son, I appreciate you saving me, but what in the Pridelands are you doing out here? And how come Scar knew that you were coming, but I did not?"

"Oh, don't even start with that," Kion muttered. "It's not my fault if he's more sensitive to my messages than you are." He turned in the direction of Fuli, who had just been dug out by the others and who was now half-limping in Kion's direction. He growled at the sight.

"Damn it, Fuli – you only just said you were done with your 'my way' crap. That was five minutes ago!"

"Hey, I saw an opportunity and I took it – there's no point in having the Fastest in the Pridelands on your team if you don't trust her to follow her instincts." She bowed her head before Simba, not quite managing to keep an impudent grin off her face. "Your majesty."

Simba glanced irately in Ono's direction, who hurriedly flew out of the way as if he was afraid he would end up being blamed for this whole situation – which was not too unrealistic, Kion considered, given how his father had originally ordered Ono to keep the Guard in check. At last the king let out a long sigh, and visibly deflated. "All right. In that case, I want the Lion Guard…" He seemed to notice Jasiri's paw mark for the first time. "You're a member of the Guard now, too?"

"Yes sir," she said, managing to sound at least a little deferential. "I'm afraid I'm replacing Bunga."

Simba's royal visage grew another line of worry as he glanced at Kion, who pointedly did not look back. "I see. Well, in that case, Lion Guard, I'm commanding you to follow Scar into that giant stone structure and save him before he can get himself killed. Also, I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not."

"Of course, father." He somehow managed to make it sound as if it had never occurred to him to say otherwise. "Please just make sure to – wait, Scar went into a giant stone structure? What?"

Simba pointed in the direction Janja had disappeared off to, and now that the sandstorm had died down they could finally make out what must have been in front of them the entire time: There was a massive, triangular structure made up of stone slabs stacked on top of each other right in the middle of the desert, each slab smaller than the last so as to create a stepwise structure that tapered to a point at the very top. In the very centre of the lowest slab a gaping black hole served as an entrance, beckoning them.

"Okay," said Kion. "What in the Pridelands?"