The Lion Guard: Dawn of a New Guard

The Lion Guard: Dawn of a New Guard is a story by PrinceBalto.

Premise
Kion's time as leader of the Lion Guard has come to an end. Now, it is time for his brave and sweet-natured niece Lilia, the daughter of Kovu and Kiara, to take the role. Getting her mark of the Guard, the lioness then gathers a new band of animals to protect the Circle of Life: There is Asha the serval, Lilia's adoptive cousin and the Purest of Heart, Revan, her brave cousin through her aunt Vitani and the Bravest, M'bogo, a male Cape buffalo and the Strongest, Obi, a male leopard and the fastest, and Akuchi, a female Harris hawk and the Keenest of Sight. Newly appointed, the new Lion Guard must now deal with new trouble: a beautiful, sneaky and devious Bat-eared fox vixen named Lerato who schemes to make her kind a dominant force in the Pridelands, even if it means crossing both the king and the Lion Guard. This is my follow-up to The Lion Guard: The Legend Begins Anew, which ended with Kion and Fuli's marriage and adoption of Asha. This means Kion, Fuli and the other members of Kion's Guard are now grown, of course.

Story
A new day had dawned over the Pridelands. Today was a day unlike any other. On this day, there was to be a transfer of power. No, not Simba passing his throne to Kiara, not yet, but rather the appointing of a new Lion Guard leader. Kion, what with his position as tetrarch of the Pridelands, as well as familial responsibilities to his beloved mate Fuli and adoptive serval daughter Asha, had opted to step down recently, with his parents' permission. The new leader of the Lion Guard would be Kion's niece, Lilia, the daughter of Kiara and Kovu. In searching for the next leader, Rafiki had informed them that Mufasa and the other great kings and queens had selected Lilia for this role. That day, a large group gathered around Pride Rock. Standing front and center were Kion and Lilia. Kion smiled at her, then looked at the group, which included Jasiri, Honey, Beshte and Ono.

"Everyone, as a cub, I was given the responsibility of leading the Lion Guard. I then appointed my Guard: Fuli, my beautiful, adoring mate and the Fastest, Jasiri, the Purest of Heart, Beshte, the strongest, Honey, the Bravest and Ono, the Keenest of Sight. Now, the sun has set on my time as leader. With the approval of King Simba and Queen Nala, I hereby bequeath my role to my niece Lilia. Lilia, you have been chosen. Are you ready?" he said, turning to her at the end.

Lilia nodded excitedly.

"Yes, Uncle Kion. I won't let you down," she stated.

Simba and Nala, now elderly, both watched from the group. They could still remember the day that Kion became leader. To the delight of all, Kion placed his paw on the shoulder of Lilia's right front leg.

"On this day, I give you my title and the Roar of the Elders. When it comes time for you to choose your Guard, you will do to them what I am about to do to you," he said.

When Kion removed his paw, the Mark of the Guard appeared. A cheer rose up from the others. A minute later, Lilia stood in front of everyone so that nothing would happen to them. She then let loose with the Roar of the Elders, the great lions and lionesses of the past appearing in the clouds and roaring with her. Lilia then turned. Her parents stepped forward, parental pride in their eyes.

"We're proud of you, Lilia. Remember, do not let yourself become like Scar," Kovu stated.

Lilia nuzzled him.

"Don't worry, Dad. I won't," she replied.

Just then, Lilia's brother, Anakin, the future king of the Pridelands, smiled.

"So, sis, who will you pick to be on your Guard?" he asked.

Lilia took a long, hard thought. She had been informed that she would have to do this once she had her position. However, she knew two animals in attendance that were perfect. She bounded over to Asha, who was sitting with Fuli. She smiled at her serval cousin and placed her paw on her left front shoulder.

"Asha, you have shown yourself worthy. As of now, you are my Guard's Purest of Heart," she said.

When Lilia removed her paw, Asha's Mark of the Guard appeared. She smiled excitedly.

"Thanks, Lilia," she said.

Lilia turned and headed over to where her aunt, Vitani, sat with her mate, Hakara, and their three cubs, sons Revan and Carth and daughter Mira. She looked at Revan. The male cub took after Vitani in appearance, having her golden fur and blue eyes. His mane tuft was brown. He was a very brave young lion, often acting as if he were an adult lion instead of the cub that he really was. She put her paw on his right front shoulder.

"Revan, you have shown yourself worthy. As of now, you are my Guard's Bravest," she said.

The Mark of the Guard appeared when Lilia removed her paw from her cousin's shoulder. Revan gave a playfully cocky look and smile at Vitani, who reached out and ruffled her son's mane tuft with her right paw.

"Well done, son," she said.

The others came to congratulate the first members of the new Lion Guard.

[To be finished soon]