Long Live the Queen (The Lion Guard)

MAMA BINTURONG: (LAUGHS CUNNINGLY) Now we've got you!

ORA: And your cubs!

VARYA: Quick, run through the mountain pass! You'll be safe on the other side!

FELIKS: But what about you, mom?

VARYA: I'll be right behind you. Now, go!

(EFFORT GRUNTS)

MAMA BINTURONG: Get those little tigers before they reach the Tree of Life!

CHULUUN: Yes, Mama. (GROWLS)

VARYA: No!

ORA: (GROWLS) Going somewhere? (EFFORT GRUNTS)

VARYA: Ugh! (GROANS)

MAKUCHA: (GROWLING)

VARYA: (ROARING)

CHULUUN: (LAUGHS WICKEDLY) I gotcha now!

KION: Leave those cubs alone, Chuluun!

CHULUNN: I was just about to do that.

RANI: Night Pride, Lion Guard, together!, Kion, have Bunga and Beshte help the cubs.

KION: Right. Guys?

BESHTE: Got it.

BUNGA: Zuka Zama!

(Feliks growls)

BUNGA: Awwww, look how cute their stripes are. (Feliks bites Bunga on the arm) And how sharp their teeth are.

BESHTE: Don't worry little guys. We're here to help you get to the Tree of Life.

FELIKS: But, what about our mom?

BESHTE: We're gonna help her too. Come on, you'll be safe with us.

KION: (growls) Makucha!

MAKUCHA: Kion? (grunts)

RANI: Nirmala, check on the tiger. Surak, Baliyo, you're with me.

ORA: Ha! You missed me.

FULI: I won't!

ORA: (grunts) Get... off!

CHULUUN: (growls)

BALIYO: Lada'i! (hits Chuluun)

CHULUUN: (grunts) I'm going! I'm going!

(Kion slaps Makucha breaking out of wrist lock, growls, then slaps Makucha again)

MAKUCHA: (growls) Enough! There's too many of them! It's not worth it!

ORA: (grunts; gets Fuli off his back) Wait for me!

FULI: Ah! (sighs)

MAMA BINTURONG: You win this time, but the next animal seeking refuge at the Tree of Life won't be so lucky.

NIRMALA: Arama karo. Relax. You're safe now.

RANI: Are you okay?

VARYA: Have you seen my cubs?

BUNGA: Did somebody say, "cubs"? We got cubs.

(Cubs laughing happily)

FELIKS: Mom!

VARYA: Oh, you're safe. Thank you for your help. My name is Varya. I've heard the Tree of Life could be a safe place to raise my cubs. Is that true?

RANI: That's up to the queen.

VARYA: Then I need to see her.

RANI: Of course, Varya. We'll take you to see her.

ULLU: Rani. Rani. (hooting) Queen Janna needs you and the Night Pride.

RANI: Oh?

KION: Go ahead, Rani. Me and the Lion Guard will stay with Varya and her cubs.

ULLU: That won't do. The queen asked for Kion, too.

KION: Me?

FULI: Go on. We can handle this, Kion.

BUNGA: Yeah. We got everything under control. (the cubs tackle Bunga, giggling) Ow!

FULI: Don't worry. I've got everything under control.

KION: Thanks, Fuli.

RANI: Thank you. Let's go.

(The Night Pride and Kion leave as Bunga breaks free of the cubs slamming into Beshte)

BESHTE: You okay, Little B?

BUNGA: Okay? You kidding? These cubs are great.

(The cubs tackle Bunga again)

(The Night Pride and Kion run through the mountain pass before slowing down and stopping to see the other animals around the tree)

BALIYO: What's going on? Why are they all here?

RANI: It's Grandmother Janna.

BALIYO: Something's wrong?

NIRMALA: It seems her time has come.

KION: Oh. Rani, Baliyo...

BALIYO: No! I don't want to go in.

SURAK: Baliyo, Queen Janna has asked to see you. You must go to her.

NIRMALA: We'll be with you the whole time.

BALIYO: Rani?

RANI: Surak and Nirmala are right. We need to go in. You can do this. I'll be right by your side.

BALIYO: Night Pride together?

RANI: Yeah, little brother. Night Pride together.

MAKINI: Some water, Queen Janna?

JANNA: Thank you, Makini.

RANI: Hello? Grandmother?

JANNA: Rani. Princess. Is that you?

RANI: Yes, Grandmother. It's me. The whole Night Pride is here.

BALIYO: Hi, Grandmother.

NIRMALA: Hello, Queen Janna.

SURAK: Mom.

KION: How is she?

(Makini shakes her head)

JANNA: And is Kion with you as well?

KION: Yes, Queen Janna. I'm here.

JANNA: (breath trembling) I am glad to have seen the Roar return to the Tree of Life.

KION: Me, too.

JANNA: I would've liked to see your healing completed. But at least I know you're here. I hope you find peace. And perhaps... (places paw on Kion's right shoulder, making the Mark of the Night Pride appear briefly) ...choose to stay.

KION: Thank you, Your Majesty, for everything.

JANNA: Baliyo?

BALIYO: I'm here.

JANNA: Stay strong, sweet Baliyo. Your sister will need your strength, give it to her.

BALIYO: (sniffs) Yes, Grandmother.

JANNA: Nirmala. We are so fortunate you joined us all those years ago.

NIRMALA: Thank you, Your Majesty.

JANNA: The healing powers of the Tree of Life belong to you now. Continue helping all who are hurting.

NIRMALA: Of course, I promise.

JANNA: And Surak, my son.

SURAK: Mom.

JANNA: Rani will lean on you for wisdom. Give it. But let her find her own way as well.

SURAK: I will.

JANNA: It is time, Rani.

RANI: I am not ready.

JANNA: You are.

RANI: But I still have so much to learn.

JANNA: Rani, you have everything you need to be queen, and you won't be alone. The Night Pride will stand besides you. And Makini, your Royal Mjuzi, will help guide you.

RANI: I'll do my best.

JANNA: I know you will.

RANI: (crying softly)

(all sobbing, Baliyo whimpers)

RANI: Goodbye, Grandmother. (begins crying)

KION: I'm so sorry, Rani.

RANI: Thank you, Kion.

RANI: Someone has to tell them.

RANI: I'll do it. Huh?

MAKINI: It's okay, Rani. This is the duty of your Royal Mjuzi. My duty.

RANI: Thank you, Makini.

MAKINI: (Inhales) Shwari.

MAKINI: Animals of the Tree of Life, Queen Janna has completed her journey in the Circle of Life.

(Other animals gasp)

BINGA: Noo.

PINGUINO: I can't believe it.

BABY GOAT: (Bleats sadly)

RAMA: It's okay. Shh.

MAKINI: As it's tradition, we will gather at the Willows to say goodbye to Queen Janna. The coronation ceremony, to make Rani the new queen of the Tree of Life, will happen at around sunset.

KION: Are you okay?

RANI: I will be. (sighs) I'll miss having her here. I guess I thought I'd have more time to learn from her. My grandmother was so wise. She always knew the right thing to do, the right animals to welcome to the Tree of Life. In fact, (chuckles) if she hadn't insisted, I never would've let you in. (pause) What if I can't be a good queen?

KION: When I first got the Roar, I didn't think I could be leader of the Lion Guard.

RANI: Really?

KION: Yeah. But then I found the strength I needed inside me. You will too. My grandfather Mufasa helped me learn that.

RANI: Do you still talk to your grandfather?

KION: (points to his scar) Not since I got this. It makes me look like Scar, an evil lion who betrayed Mufasa and took over the Pride Lands.

RANI: Yes. My grandmother told me the story of what Scar did to Mufasa.

KION: Then you understand why I can't face my grandfather, not until my scar is healed.

RANI: We all have our scars, Kion (shows Kion a scar in her right foreleg). Sisi Ni Sawa. It's something my grandmother says. It means...

KION: ..."we're the same".

RANI: Yes. She reminded me of that when I wasn't sure if we should welcome you to the Tree of Life. I'm glad she did.