Learning how to draw on the computer now :D (I'm kinda getting the hang of it)

Anyway, this picture also comes with a mini story I wrote inspired by a scene and a few songs from the Beastars soundtrack.

Note: The Lion Guard are in their "toddler-like" years (I know it's kinda hard to tell)

"This is great! Just the five of us out here in the open at night!" Bunga said, eagerly bouncing around through the grass.

"Surprised that Akila allowed us to bring Ono out with us," Beshte admitted. 

"I know, right?" Ono agreed excitedly, the egret was perched on top of Beshte's head, "Mom usually doesn't like it when stay up at night!"

"Well guess what, bud, now that you're with us, you're gonna be able to stay up as late as you want with no restrictions!" Bunga claimed. "Akila may be your mom, but even she can't treat you like a baby forever!"

Ono stared at Bunga with an offended look. "Wha- Hey! Who're calling a baby!?"

"Okay, okay! That's enough," Kion chuckled. "Let's just enjoy the view now, alright?"

"Besides, we're still technically not totally unrestricted," Fuli said, "Remember, we only have five minutes before we all go home."

"Which is why we gotta make the most of this night!" Bunga said, plopping down onto the ground. 

Kion, Beshte, and Fuli sat down beside him and the conversation ended from there. The five friends looked up at the night sky, taking in the breathtaking, starry view.

"It sure is pretty, tonight," Beshte sighed.

"Yeah," Ono agreed, smiling. Fuli felt herself smile too, she continued to admire the nighttime stretch, stars were specked all across the dark sky, shining brightly in a river that seemed to have no end.

"Hey guys, do you know what stars are exactly?" Bunga suddenly asked, breaking the long silence that was held between the friends.

"What do you mean, Lil' B?" Beshte said.

"Like, what do you think the stars are made of?" Bunga rephrased. "My Uncle Timon says that they're fireflies while Uncle Pumbaa says that they're balls of gas burning millions of miles away."

"That sounds about right," Ono chirped. "I don't think stars are fireflies, it just doesn't make any sense."

"Sure it does!" Bunga argued. "Now we know where fireflies come from! They come from the sky! Oh wow, you birds are lucky. I wish I could fly, that way I'd be able to fly my way up to the sky and eat every single one of those fireflies!"

"They're not fireflies!" Ono squawked.

"Bunga," Fuli grumbled. Kion and Beshte giggled a little while Ono looked somewhat annoyed but not as much as Fuli.

"Well what about you, Kion?" Beshte asked, turning to the lion. "What do you think stars are?"

Kion thought about the question for a heartbeat. "Well, my Dad said that the stars are actually the Lions of the Past, the big ones specifically represent the Great Kings of the Past, every single one of them that came before us."

"Really?" Bunga breathed. "Uncle Timon and Pumbaa told me about Simba saying something like that a long time ago."

"Yep. That's what we were all taught in the pride."

Fuli blinked, she recalled the times she had heard the lions mentioning the Great Kings of the Past since she joined the pride, but even then she never really understood it, nor was as invested in it like the lions were. Everyday, she would hear the pride, especially the elders, talk about and tell stories about them to the cubs, but she wasn't sure if she should believe them or not. 

The cheetah shrugged, Meh, I won't think about it too much right now.

It was then she noticed Kion raise a paw and point at the moon, the pale, silvery-white sphere glowed even brighter than the stars themselves.

"We were also told that the moon represents the very first King of the Pride Lands. Can't remember his name, but I heard that he was the one who created the first pride, coined the term Circle of Life, named all the locations, and established all the Pride Lands Laws we have today."

"Wow... He did all that?" Bunga breathed, his eyes full of wonder. Beshte and Ono looked just as interested.

"Do you really believe all this, Kion?" Fuli mewed.

"Well, yeah," Kion replied in a matter-of-factly tone. "This is something everyone has been taught since they were cubs. Besides, there have been recorded cases of some of the kings or queens or other ancient pride members talking to our ancestors' spirits. My dad told me that he even talks to Grandfather Mufasa's spirit whenever he needs advice on anything."

"Hmm..." Fuli thought out loud.

"Can you tell which star is which?" Beshte asked.

"Um... No one can really tell," Kion admitted, shaking his head. "Many have tried, but it's too complicated. We only know a few of the big stars that represent the kings. Like that one."

Kion then pointed to a star that seemed to shine brighter than all the rest, almost as brightly as the moon even.

"That star is King Mohatu, he was one of the legendary kings," he began. "It is said that during his reign at one point, the Pridelanders were suffering from a long lasting drought during a very harsh Dry Season and Mohatu saved them all by finding and getting everyone to the Great Lake, which is somewhere in the Backlands area."

"Un-bunga-lievable! That's amazing!" Bunga exclaimed. "Tell us more about Mohatu, Kion!"

"Yeah!" Beshte and Ono agreed.

"Okay," chuckled Kion. "So, it was at least five years ago..."

Fuli barely paid attention to Kion retelling the story, she looked back up at the sky, suddenly the stars didn't look as simple as they used to anymore. Honestly, she never really gave much thought to the stories or she had heard about them from the pride, but only now did she start to really consider them a little more. Suddenly, she felt disappointment and sadness drop inside of her. If the stories are true, and all the stars are really the Lions and Great Kings of the Past, Then that means...

"Unina is probably not up there..." Fuli sighed sadly. Everyone then turned to Fuli, their expressions a little puzzled.

"What do you mean?" Kion said.

"If the stars are really just all lions, then Unina is probably not up there then because she's a cheetah..." Fuli explained, gazing at the sky with a disheartened look. "She or any other animal in general... They're probably not up there..."

Beshte, Bunga, and Ono now exchanged a surprised glance, as if this thought had never occurred to them until now.

"M-my mom said that my father died before I was born..." Ono whispered, "...If he's not a star... Then... what is he...? Where is he...?

"Kion...?" Bunga croaked, now looking worried, scared even. "If either me, Beshte, Ono, or Fuli were to complete our journey in the Circle of Life... Where would we go...?"

Everyone turned to Kion for an answer or some kind of explanation, but even the lion cub didn't seem to know, he too seemed disturbed. 

Finally, he sighed. "I may not know where exactly everyone else goes when they die, but I do know that you will have some place among the sky with the stars."

"How do you know for sure?" Ono pressed.

"I don't," Kion admitted. He then turned back to the sky. "But I do know that all the good spirits go somewhere. Although I may not know where, I do know it's somewhere in the sky. Every spirit with an honorable life gets an honorable place up there afterwards."

"I guess..." Fuli murmured, Kion's explanation seemed to make sense. Everyone else seemed to agree, because they all held a relieved look.

"Don't worry too much about it," Kion whispered to Fuli. "I'm sure that wherever your mother is up there, and even if we don't know where exactly, they're up there always watching over you."

Fuli nodded, turning back to the sky. All her doubts had melted away, she slowly smiled as Kion's words rang through her head. 

Kion's right. I may not know where you, or any of my ancestors are in the sky, and though you may not be represented as the stars, I know you're still up there, watching over me. You always will be...

Scene: (idk why it only shows fandubs as a result :b)

https://youtu.be/e4Jvvkuu_2g

(You should hear Voss's sneeze from the original, it's so adorable!)

Songs:

https://youtu.be/xAJDrGgyW1k

https://youtu.be/bglHVQWM28I

https://youtu.be/oUQFjWMJC40