A Lion Guard Story- Saviors From The Other Side by numbt, literature
Literature
A Lion Guard Story- Saviors From The Other Side
The Lion Guard broke their gaze from the volcano as they departed to their respective homes for the night. Fuli dragged her paws as she watched Kion depart into the Royal Chambers, viewing his determined and friendly manor change to an empathetic and relieved one. She watched him hug his father’s body in its slumber as a single tear trickled from his eye. His mother and sister embraced him with warm smiles as the family knew they were able to sleep soundly on a day that had every right to resist kindness unto them. She stayed there a little while and overlooked the Pride Lands from a step leading down Pride Rock- she watched as Beshte walked to Big Springs, Ono flew to his nest at Maumivu Thorn Patch, Bunga unnecessarily raced to Hakuna Matata Falls, and Rafiki jogged to his tree. As she recognized the coast was clear and understood she was the only diurnal animal still restlessly awake, she quietly sprinted behind Pride Rock, out of view and exempt of hearing’s reach from all. There, she broke down in tears knowing the threat ahead. The cheetah tried to never let her emotions show, especially with her past still being a burden she refused to offload. The reason this evil lion’s return was so traumatic was not due directly to the horrid stories she knew all too well, but more coherently to the fact she had yet to face a genuine evil since the night her family was slaughtered before her eyes. She never considered any Outland foe a sincere threat to her home, and most importantly, her best friends, until then. Now, they all had guaranteed bounties put on their heads, and she could have only imagined the ways Scar planned to execute each and every one of them. Fuli worried for her new family’s safety every time a Pride Lands scuffle ensued, but it was nothing that she couldn’t handle while in the face of danger. Now, she knew she would have to control her emotions more than ever as the fear for her team would be at an all time high no matter the opponent she faced so long as she knew the false king was directing them. Fuli was eventually able to collect herself, but as she finally convinced herself that the Lion Guard was up to such a grueling task of defending the Circle of Life from the very specimen that once broke it, her focus on those close to her temporarily shifted to those she had never met. Fuli well understood that apart from the likes of jackals, hyenas, crocs, and vultures were innocent animals of in the Outlands that Scar would undoubtedly attempt to recruit- wild dogs, meerkats, hyraxes, mole rats, mice, colobuses, bustards, foxes, certain cats, and smaller, Swinglish speaking reptile species- all of these species resided in the land she despised. She figured that Scar would need all the help he could get to ensure the Lion Guard was in fact destroyed, and whether these poor creatures accepted or denied the spirit’s proposal, the future would be most definitely detrimental for them. Knowing her past, Fuli knew that it was a blessing to have escaped the evil Chuki was, a fate her mother, sister, and other Backland animals were not fortunate to share. She could only imagine that those animals in the Outlands didn’t have much of a choice if the Army of Scar strolled into their territory. Fuli tried not to show sympathy on a daily basis, but she did have a desirable hint of it embedded in her soul- she was on the Lion Guard after all, a job where the lives of the animals around her mattered. She knew that she had to do something- for the sake of the Pride Lands and for the sake of those that would be effected. Scar’s Army did not attack the next day, making way for an easy patrol that still saw each bristle of fur, feather, and hair raised on the Guard’s bodies. Kion seemed to have collected himself from the disaster that was the day prior, and although uneasily, as the team went home for the meantime, the Pride Lands’ Fastest approached her Leader. “Kion,” she started, “can I talk to you?” “Sure,” he warmly replied. “What’s up?” “After last night,” she continued, “I was thinking about something, and I wanted to ask if you would consider a mission for the whole Guard.” “Well, if it’s a mission,” the Fiercest responded, “you may need to talk to my dad about it. I need permission from him if I ever need to change something up. You can talk to him when he gets better.” “Kion,” she reiterated, “I know your dad’s sick, but it’s urgent. Is there any way I can talk to him.” “I’m sorry Fuli,” Kion apologized. “Rafiki said he needs rest, and I don’t think my mom will let you.” “Ok,” she painfully agreed. The cheetah went onto wait two weeks for Simba to fully recover, being thankful every time they were thrown into battle that a new species was not present. The night after Kongwe shared her wisdom to the monarchy, Fuli finished her patrol early and reported to Kion desperate to get an audience with the King. She was finally granted her request. “Hello Kion, Fuli,” Simba greeted as they walked up to the entrance to the Royal Chambers. “Hey Dad,” Kion returned. “Fuli would like to talk to you about something.” Fuli, wasting no time in starting, went ahead. “Your majesty, I wanted to ask you about possibly allowing the Lion Guard to go on a mission in the Outlands.” Simba’s eyes widened as well as his son’s, both being unaware of how absurd the cheetah’s “big picture” was. “I’ve been thinking,” she continued, “and there are several animals in the Outlands, and Scar’s plan seems to be to rally the entire Outlands together. If they were to join Scar, the Army would only grow stronger. If they were to disagree, I don’t think it would end well for them.” “What are you trying to say,” the King asked. “I think we all know that there are several animals in the Outlands that are there mainly for the actions their ancestors made,” the cheetah argued, “and while some chose to not learn from their mistakes, many have. I want to ask if we can go into the Outlands and evacuate them into the Pride Lands.” Fuli’s logic did throw the King into consideration of her point; Kion stood there silent, staring at his friend with shocked eyes, either for how ridiculous her plan seemed or for how sympathetic she was being in this moment. “Fuli,” Simba started, “I do like your idea and the intentions behind it. However, I don’t think it’s a good idea to send the entire Lion Guard into the Outlands with Scar’s Army lurking around almost every corner.” “Then I’ll go alone,” she responded. “I know each animal’s scent like the back of my paw, and I can navigate the Outlands untouched by avoiding them.” “Fuli,” Kion interrupted, “you know I don’t like it when we go into the Outlands alone. Someone has to have your back if you go into unknown territory.” “Then what about Bunga,” she fought. “He’s better at fighting than Beshte and Ono, and as clumsy as he is, he knows when we need to get serious.” After she finished, she couldn’t believe she just said what she said- asking Bunga to aid her on a mission was the last thing she ever expected herself to do. “Kion,” Simba called. He signaled his son onto the ledge of Pride Rock, leaving the cheetah behind them to anxiously wait for an answer as the two discussed what they thought was best. “Fuli,” Simba addressed as he cleared his throat, “I’ll allow you to go through with the mission, but only as long as Bunga is with you at all times, you come back to the Pride Lands when danger is about to become inescapable, and you report every rescue to Kion or I.” “Understood, your majesty,” she replied. “Thank you.” “May I ask,” Simba followed up, “do you have an idea on how you are going to do this?” “Yes,” she replied. “I’d like to keep that under my control if you two are ok with that.” Although Kion and Simba both looked at each other uneasily, the Prince spoke up. “I think I can trust you,” he admitted. “If you’re alright with that, Dad.” “If Kion trusts you,” Simba sighed, “I suppose I should trust you too.” The desolate Outlands laid tranquil as no attack dared to threaten it. The wind disturbed the still bones of leftovers and coursed through the ravine as the dust of the rocky ground blew below the feet of thousands of animals. Azazeli, a wild dog living in the area, was the descendant of Mbaya, a supporter of Scar that would not submit to Simba’s rule when he was named king. With Mbaya then older and closer to death, it was evident her daughter would have to serve her punishment, and after her passing, made it so that her pack could live the best possible life- she ensured they were free of all trouble in a territory distal from those committed to constantly breaking the Circle of Life. One day, as she overlooked her kids, nephews, and nieces playing in the small rock enclosure they resided in, an unfamiliar scent pinched her nose, leading her outside of her makeshift den. She turned her head left and right to ensure the coast was clear, but she was indeed startled when a voice came from behind her home. “Excuse me,” came the voice of a male hyena, the charisma and sincerity seemingly present in his tone. “I suppose you are Azalessi?” “Azazeli,” the wild dog corrected, still gasping for the breath she just lost in the jump scare she sustained. “My apologies,” the hyena said, his smile filled with sharp teeth never leaving his face. “The name’s Janja, and I’m here representing a few of us Outlanders and a cause we think you should be apart of.” A bit skeptical, Azazeli’s attention was caught. “Go on,” she urged. “See, they’re a few of us hyenas, jackals, crocs, and vultures that are eager to get back into the Pride Lands,” Janja continued. “But, of course, we’d like to settle things as quickly as possible. I’ve heard that you’re here cause of Mbaba, right?” “Mbaya,” Azazeli again corrected. “You should really know the names of your ‘clients.’” “Again, I apologize,” Janja replied rather charmingly. “My boss did send me over here on short notice. He told me you were a priority to recruit to our cause, as he did know Mbaya personally.” “Why couldn’t your boss come with you,” Azazeli questioned. “He unfortunately had more important matters to attend to,” Janja smiled. “It’s just me today. So what do you say? Let’s get back in the Pride Lands together?” Just as he said that, numerous unfamiliar scents nested into Azazeli’s nostrils. At least twenty different smells was nothing short of a warning sign pointing toward the fact they were, in fact, not alone. “Do I have time to think about it,” Azazeli asked. Janja thought for a second, honestly debating whether he should let her off the hook or pressure her to choose then and there. “You know,” he replied, “I normally wouldn’t do this, but you can take a couple of days. Although my boss will probably not be too happy- he was looking forward to meeting you today.” “Tell him I’ll need some time,” she nervously grinned, knowing Janja was trying to persuade her through that comment. “Alright,” he agreed. “I’ll come back in two days.” The hyena strolled back the way he came, opening his mouth to talk to someone behind a turn in the rock wall, revealing Azazeli’s worries to be true. “You know,” a female voice followed, “I wouldn’t trust them if I were you.” Azazeli turned to see a cheetah round the adjacent corner with a honey badger close behind. Both bore the marks of lions on their shoulders and had warm smiles on their face, very different from the skepticism present in the wild dog’s previous encounter. “Who are you,” Azazeli asked now fairly terrified. “I’m Fuli, and this is Bunga,” the Fastest whispered, “and that hyena is a bad animal. We’re from the Pride Lands, and we want to get you out of here.” “Don’t worry about anything,” Bunga said loudly, “we’re here to help!” “I’m sorry,” Azazeli huffed, “but how do I know to trust you and not them?” Fuli did not want to startle them about the threat of Scar, so she minced as many words as she could. “Look, I take it that hyena just tried to recruit you to join him in attacking the Pride Lands, and if you give him anything other than a yes, bad things will happen, and even if you do join them, your family will all be put in danger.” Azazeli looked back to her kids, whom were eavesdropping on their mother as they realized she had left their quarters. That reasoning really hit hard, and she felt it was true as the former did not even acknowledge her family. She sighed, and replied. “Ok, we’ll follow you.” “Great,” Fuli exclaimed. “Bunga, make sure all the wild dogs get out of there safely.” “Come on doggy-dogs,” Bunga called. “Get outta there!” The forty or so wild dogs ventured out into the light, leaving their humor of a home for the last time. “Alright everyone,” Fuli announced, “follow me.” Fuli led the wild dogs out of the Outlands completely unscathed despite how deep they were located, and both her and Bunga continued to do this with other animals for three months all while helping the Lion Guard fight their battles when necessary. Fuli would casually report to Kion on a regular basis, commonly surprising the Fiercest as he had no idea how her and Bunga were able to evacuate so many animals in such little time. Their numbers quickly reached the hundreds, then the thousands, and as Simba learned about their success, he became very impressed, but as Scar’s forces started to attack more frequently, their efforts were going to have to be cut short. Simba explained to Kion that after close to three thousand rescues being accomplished, Fuli and Bunga could no longer save any animals beyond the Pride Lands borders, and Kion alerted Fuli he convinced his dad to allow her one final opportunity to complete a mission that would have cleared nearly all of Scar’s targets for allies. Fuli and Bunga sulked through the ravines and used their amazing senses of smell to avoid any Army territory, and they eventually made it to their final location- a den filled with foxes whom were previously approached by Scar’s minions. Fuli ensured the coast was clear, and after signaling the Bravest to follow her into the territory, she whispered to the skulk leader. “Mjanja,” she softly spoke, “ are you there?” “Yes,” the fox replied as she peaked her head from the hole. “Who are you?” “I’m Fuli, and this is Bunga. We’re here to get you out of the Outlands.” “I don’t know if we can do that,” Mjanja responded unsteadily. “The hyena is coming back today. He wants us to join him, and he’s going to kill us if we say no.” “He told you that,” Bunga asked. “No,” Mjanja answered. “But we know who he is and we know how he treats his prey.” “OH MJANJA!” A voice rang through the canyon from around at least two corners, and everyone in that residence knew that it belonged to the malicious hyena. “How many of you are in there,” Fuli whispered quickly. “Ten of us,” Mjanja answered. “Get them all out now,” Fuli ordered, “and start running straight…” “No,” the fox replied. “Save yourselves. We’re not worth it.” “Yes you are,” Fuli immediately replied. “Now listen- get your skulk out, keep running straight, make two lefts, then three rights, two lefts again, then four rights. The entrance to the Pride Lands is right there at Flat Ridge Rock.” “We can’t remember all that information,” Mjanja honestly admitted. “We’ll never make it out.” Fuli sighed as Janja yelled again. “I gave you two whole days to think! I can’t wait to hear your answer! The whole Army is! HAAAHAAHA!” “Bunga,” Fuli started, “lead the foxes out of here. You know the way.” “What about you,” Mjanja worriedly asked. “I’ll hold them off,” Fuli revealed. “No please,” Mjanja humbly pleaded. “We’re not worth it. We’ve made mistakes and now we’re paying for them. Save yourselves! “Everyone deserves a second chance,” Fuli barked in disarray. “I should know, trust me. Now get your damn skulk out of there.” “MJANJA,” the hyena called again. “NOW,” the cheetah yelled in a whisper. The foxes sprinted from the den, Fuli’s heart stopping momentarily every time a kit slipped. The scents of every Army member she had learned all too well grew stronger and stronger. As all ten foxes and the Bravest disappeared behind the fallen rock they cleared upon entry, Fuli took a defensive position and a breath of assurance as Janja circled the bend to come face to face with the Fastest. “What are you doing here,” Janja challenged, not expecting to see one of his greatest foes standing before him, his horrendous sense of smell being unable to detect her. Fuli waited some time to respond, stopping for the Army to turn to face her. When they did, she set her feet and readied her heart. “Just proving you can’t catch me,” she mockingly yelled. She then sprinted in a circle in the rather wide area, using the wind to help the new dirt of the air fly into her opposition’s faces. Janja coughed out the dust he inhaled and batted his eyes to clear them of the particles, and his gaze was able to locate the cheetah’s tail just before it disappeared completely. “AFTER HER,” Janja yelled. Fuli darted away at an easy speed, making it possible for her to cut the corners necessary to catch up to Bunga and the skulk. She could hear Bunga encouraging the foxes as she ran faster and faster, and ultimately, she reached Flat Ridge Rock and breathed a sigh of relief when Bunga was there with the saved. “Oooh, that was close,” Bunga exclaimed. “Where are the Outlanders?” “Long behind,” Fuli assured him. “You have all of them right?” “Of course,” Bunga confidentially stated. “Watch- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, te…. Hold up. Wait, wait, wait. Let’s do that again- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine…There’s just nine.” “Where’s Wasio,” Mjanja asked after looking around. “He must have gotten stuck under those rocks that fell back there,” a fox chimed in. “I’ll get him,” Fuli said as she raced back the way she came, not even thinking to listen to what anyone had to say. Wasio’s leg was either broken or severely sprained under the few slabs of stone that prevented his still young body from escaping the sprinting danger. The Army was trying to keep on Fuli’s tail despite the hopelessness in doing so, but when they were mid run, they all stopped in their tracks as they acknowledged the fallen kit. “Well, well, well,” Janja snarled. “Seems like we got lucky. Let’s make an example of those who resist Scar.” The hyena wasted no time pouncing, but as his jaws were less than a foot from reaching the fox’s skin, another force tackled him straight into the rock wall. Fuli ensured the hyena was down and very quickly removed the stones preventing the kit from escaping. Despite his injured leg, the Fastest barked the word ‘run’ at him, truly scaring the fox into retreat at a pace as quick as a cripple could. Reirei sprinted toward him, but the cheetah also sent her flying into the sediment around them. The cheetah kicked a few more enemies to the ground before forcing herself into a fast retreat. She noticed the vultures lowering their level of aviation onto a position ahead, and increased her speed figuring that attack was aimed at Wasio. Surely enough, as Mzingo’s talons outstretched to the limping kit, Fuli took him down midair and jumped to scare off the buzzards that followed. Fuli picked up Wasio with her teeth, and holding him in her jaws as a mother would, she prepped to sprint out of the Outlands and never return for a hot minute. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck Fuli’s hind leg. She looked to see Tamka biting onto her hind left calf in an attempt to snap it, and while she tried to kick him away, the crocodile’s teeth only sunk deeper into her flesh. The croc tried to readjust his grip, but the cheetah was quick enough to get her leg away. She looked past the rocks behind to notice the Army running into view, and she ran as fast as her legs would have allowed. While the bite mainly impacted her calf and shin, the back of her hind left paw was clipped, meaning her insane speed was reduced merely to that of a springbok. She continued to outpace the entire Army, but then a camouflaged stone caused her to break stride, tripping over it. In an attempt to stay on her feet, her front right paw completely buckled and twisted. She dropped Wasio, and after picking herself up, she grabbed the kit again and started running at the speed of a rhino, narrowly avoiding a fatal bite from Kiburi. She ran at speeds slowing down to that of a tired oryx; the cliff up to Flat Ridge Rock came into sight as a mockery of a finish line that symbolized the gate between life and death alongside satisfaction and failure. She tried increasing her speed to no avail, knowing that if she did her limbs would all collapse of muscle fatigue. As the wall came closer, the cheetah knew she had no choice but to jump. Janja, Cheezi, Chungu, and Reirei were the four Outlanders biting at her tail, and knowing she was seconds away from her conscience giving in, set to veto all emotions and urges simply to give the body a moment’s rest, she set her two working feet and pounced. She activated her claws that unleashed into the wall, grasping the sediment that led directly up to the grass of her home, the ground of guaranteed safety. Below lied the gate to the afterlife, multiple predators waiting for their prey to drop into their jaws. Fuli started to pull herself up, but all her claws did was slip back down to the spot she gripped onto. Her muscles had had enough, and could do no more, and her injuries only worsened their urge to quit. Holding Wasio tight in her jaws, she began to lose grip on the wall. She held on for dear life, trying to move her limbs as they would not, and ultimately, the rock holding her did break away. A small scream slipped from Fuli’s clenched mouth as she started her descent to death. Fuli’s eyes remained open long enough to see a single hand grab onto her left leg, the one holding her up as long as it did. The hand had black claws and a dark blue fur, and as her eyes made their way up to her savior, she could see the whitish grey Mark of the Guard on his navy shoulder, and ultimately, her gaze met Bunga as he pulled her and Wasio up onto Pride Land turf. “Dammit,” Janja swore and yelled. “This isn’t over, Fuli. Next time we’ll kill you for sure!” “Don’t count on it,” Bunga retaliated. “If you couldn’t beat her with four legs when she had two, you have no business talking!” Janja smirked at the smack thrown at him, and the Army ventured back to Scar with nothing to impress him. Bunga made sure the Army left, and then immediately turned his attention to his friend. “Are you alright, Fuli?” “Yeah,” she breathed heavily. “Thanks to you. You saved my life!” “What can I say,” Bunga replied. “You’ve done it way too many times before.” “Thank you…Bunga” she said between breaths. “I owe you one.” “Consider us even,” he insisted. “No need to thank me.” Fuli smiled at him, and went onto control her breathing. As she was a little too big for him to carry, the Bravest fetched Beshte and got him to carry Fuli to the Lair of the Lion Guard, where she recovered rather quickly and continued to defend the Pride Lands from Scar, only this time on familiar soil. THE END. Sorry about the break! Had an emergency I had to attend to, and couldn’t write through the week, but we’re back! Hope you enjoyed this story!
Members of The Archies (My Version) by Mixer-21, literature
Literature
Members of The Archies (My Version)
Archie Andrews (voiced by Ross Lynch): The rhythm guitarist, lead vocalist and main leader of the Archies (who are also known as the Teen Scene Investigators). He is a redheaded, freckled student at Riverdale High, and a reporter for the school newspaper. He is clumsy, awkward, and has trouble making decisions, but his heart is always in the right place. All of his news stories are centered around the surreal occurrences that take place within each episode and always end with "...in a little town called Riverdale." Despite his clumsiness and rash decision-making, he frequently attracts girls, human or otherwise. Archie is a typical teenage boy, attending high school, participating in sports, and dating. He is extremely kind, caring, brave and accident-prone and many of his actions, however well-intentioned, inadvertently harm the people he tries to help. He is not that academically inclined and brings home average grades. He is athletic and loves sports. He also has a love of cars and
Chapter 22: Secret Squad: Trial by Shadows
Aswad Abyad; one of Anima’s most successful businessmen, secret financial backer of the Cult of Grimm, and current target of the Secret Squad. Polu Shark piloted the squad’s aircraft while Dr. Ember would act as their communications hub. That left Agent Jim Ironwould, Jr. to lead the squad in the field. As their aircraft approached Anima’s airspace, Jim pulled a picture of his mother and father out of his coat pocket and kissed it for good luck; just as he had done for every other mission. Putting the picture away again, he stood up from his seat to address the criminals Atl